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.
The patient's condition is stable.
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.
The condition is worsening.
A casual, everyday word for physical condition. Often used when asking about someone's health, but can apply to patients.
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.
The patient is in critical condition.
Literally 'serious body', used in news reports to mean 'in serious condition'. Common in media.
A formal medical term for 'serious' or 'severe', often used in clinical records.
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.
The condition is stable.
Literally 'heading toward recovery'. A natural way to say the patient is improving.
The patient is improving.
Means 'is recovering'. Direct and clear.
Recovering smoothly.
Describing a decline in the patient's health.
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.
How is Mr. Tanaka's condition?
Casual way to ask about condition. Suitable for family or close acquaintances.
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.
被害者は重体です。
The victim is in serious condition.
重篤な状態です。
The condition is serious.
The condition suddenly changed and is now critical.