Everyday English (Vocabulary Building)

Topic: Health & Illness

Lesson Notes April 15, 2025 (Vocabulary Building)

Words & Phrases

• Did you happen to see the NHK program about bonsai today?

• The supermarkets have put up signs saying, ‘One bag of rice per customer.’

• How do you keep rice at home?

• “How do you store rice at home?” (More natural and common)

• “How do you keep your rice fresh at home?”

• I used to keep my rice under the sink, but it was a little too damp. I thought the rice might have fermented.

• Damp (adj); Slightly wet or moist, often in an unpleasant way.

• The towel was still damp after being left out overnight.

• My clothes felt damp because of the rain.

• The basement smelled damp and musty.

• Mould (mold) (noun); A type of fungus that grows in damp, warm places, often on food or walls, and can be harmful to health.

• There was mould on the bread, so I threw it away.

• The bathroom has mould because it doesn’t have good ventilation.

• Mould can cause allergies and breathing problems.

Health & Illness

• A black-eye (noun); A dark bruise around the eye, usually from being hit.

• Cavity (noun); A hole in a tooth caused by decay

• Contagious (adj); Able to spread from one person to another, especially through touch or air.

• Diabetes (noun) ( ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz ) di-a-BE-tes; A medical condition where the body cannot control blood sugar properly.

• Home remedy (noun); A simple treatment using household items, not from a doctor.

• Insomnia (noun); Trouble falling or staying asleep.

• Sprain (noun); An injury where a joint (like an ankle or wrist) is stretched or torn.

• Stitches (noun); Thread used by doctors to close a cut or wound.

• Thermometer (noun) ( θərˈmɑːmɪtər ) ther-MOM-e-ter ; An instrument used to measure temperature.