throat

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 喉 means throat; its kun-reading is のど and its on-reading is こう.
• Basic usage: 喉が乾いた can mean that one's throat became dry, including after speaking for a long time.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The sensation of swallowing
  • 喉越し, read のどごし, focuses on how food or drink feels as it passes down the throat.
  • 滑らかな喉越し means a smooth sensation when swallowing. The term can apply to food such as thin noodles as well as to chilled drinks.