The Chinese word for to cough is
咳嗽

ké sòu

Chinese Definition

cough
1. 咳
2. 咳嗽
3. 咳嗽病
4. 嗽
Components
咳
1. to cough
咳到好辛苦 - painfully cough
咳出一口血xiě 來 - to cough up a mouthful of blood
2. cough
3. sound of sighing
4. (of infant) to laugh; to cackle
5. Alternative form of 孩 (child; infant)
6. (interjection for sighing or order)
7. Alternative form of 閡 (to be cut off from)
嗽
1. to cough

咳嗽
1. v. (intransitive) to cough
她咳嗽的聲音很大，嚇了我一跳。 - Her huge cough startled me.
2. v. (Classical, figurative) to make a sound; to speak