Translation guide
How to talk about a patient's medical state in Japanese, from casual updates to formal medical reports.
Describing how a patient is doing overall, in everyday conversation or general updates.
The most common word for a patient's condition, used in both spoken and written contexts. Neutral and widely understood.
患者の容態は安定しています。
The patient's condition is stable.
容態が急変した。
The condition suddenly changed.
Refers to the state of an illness or disease progression. Slightly more medical than 容態, often used in clinical settings.
病状が悪化している。
The condition is worsening.
A casual, everyday word for physical condition. Often used when asking about someone's health, but can apply to patients.
患者さんの具合はどうですか？
How is the patient's condition?
Indicating that a patient is in a severe or life-threatening state.
Means 'critical condition', often implying imminent danger of death. Used in formal or medical contexts.
患者は危篤状態です。
The patient is in critical condition.
Literally 'serious body', used in news reports to mean 'in serious condition'. Common in media.
被害者は重体です。
The victim is in serious condition.
A formal medical term for 'serious' or 'severe', often used in clinical records.
重篤な状態です。
The condition is serious.
Expressing that a patient is doing well or recovering.
Means 'is stable'. A standard way to say the condition is not changing for the worse.
容態は安定しています。
The condition is stable.
Literally 'heading toward recovery'. A natural way to say the patient is improving.
患者は快方に向かっています。
The patient is improving.
Means 'is recovering'. Direct and clear.
順調に回復しています。
Recovering smoothly.
Describing a decline in the patient's health.
The standard way to say 'is worsening'.
病状が悪化しています。
The condition is worsening.
Means 'the condition suddenly changed', often implying a turn for the worse.
容態が急変し、危篤状態です。
The condition suddenly changed and is now critical.
How to inquire about someone's health in a medical context.
Polite way to ask about a patient's condition. Replace 〜 with the person's name or title.
田中さんの容態はいかがですか？
How is Mr. Tanaka's condition?
Casual way to ask about condition. Suitable for family or close acquaintances.
お母さんの具合はどうですか？
How is your mother's condition?
容態 is the most general and neutral term for a patient's condition. 病状 focuses on the disease aspect and is more clinical. 具合 is casual and used for everyday health, not just patients.
The English word 'condition' can be translated as 状態 (じょうたい), but in medical contexts, 容態 or 病状 are more natural. Using 状態 alone may sound vague or unnatural.