Coughs can be categorized in many ways, commonly based on the duration of the cough and the presence or absence of sputum. Based on the duration of the cough, coughs can be categorized as acute, subacute or chronic. Acute cough lasts less than 3 weeks, subacute cough lasts between 3 and 8 weeks, and chronic cough lasts more than 8 weeks. Cough with sputum and dry cough without sputum are categorized according to the presence or absence of sputum. Cough with sputum is defined as coughing up >10 ml/day, and dry cough without sputum is defined as coughing up ≤10 ml/day. Cough with sputum is a common symptom of respiratory diseases, and there are many causes of cough, including respiratory tract infection, cough variant asthma, gastroesophageal reflux irritation, upper airway cough syndrome, tumors, and tracheal tuberculosis, which should be analyzed comprehensively by evaluating the history of disease, occupational exposures, clinical symptoms, and imaging tests. If the cough does not improve repeatedly, it is recommended to actively seek medical advice and treatment under the guidance of a doctor.