Meaning

Primary

Digestion

Word Type

noun, verbal noun, の adjective

Explanation

What is something that will first extinguish something and then change it? One thing I can think of is your body. It takes in food, extinguishes it in your stomach, then changes it into things your body can use (and then excrete). That's why this "extinguish-change" process is your digestion.

Reading

しょうか
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 消化を行う

    to digest

    消化を始める

    to begin digesting

    消化を助ける

    to aid digestion

Context Sentences

ヨーグルトは食べ物の消化を助けてくれます。

Yogurt helps you digest food.

コウイチは下り気味だから、消化の良いものを食べさせてあげてね。

Koichi's having a touch of diarrhea, so please have him eat something easy to digest.

昼に食べたラーメンをまだ消化しきっていない。

I haven’t finished digesting the ramen I ate for lunch.

Kanji Composition