Translation guide
A person who has both hearing and vision loss. In Japanese, the term 盲ろう者 (mourousha) is the standard, but it can also be expressed descriptively. This guide covers how to refer to and describe deaf-blind individuals naturally.
The most common and respectful way to refer to a deaf-blind person.
Describing someone as deaf-blind without using the specific term.
A polite descriptive phrase meaning 'a person with hearing and vision disabilities'. Suitable when you want to avoid technical terms.
耳と目が不自由な人のための支援が必要です。
Support for people who are deaf and blind is necessary.
Casual ways to refer to a deaf-blind person, often used in conversation.
A slightly more casual version of the descriptive phrase. Can be used in everyday speech.
耳も目も不自由な人とどうやってコミュニケーションをとるの？
How do you communicate with someone who is both deaf and blind?
When referring to people with disabilities, Japanese often uses indirect or euphemistic expressions. 盲ろう者 is neutral and widely accepted, but in sensitive contexts, descriptive phrases like 耳と目が不自由な方 (using 方 for person) may be preferred for extra politeness.
盲聾者 (もうろうしゃ) is an older term using the kanji 聾 (deaf), but 盲ろう者 with the kana ろう is now standard and preferred to avoid the less common kanji.
The standard term combining 盲 (blind) and ろう (deaf). Used in official contexts and everyday respectful language.
彼は盲ろう者です。
He is a deaf-blind person.
A more formal descriptive phrase: 'a person with hearing and visual impairments'. Often used in medical or official documents.
聴覚と視覚に障害がある人へのサービスを拡充します。
We will expand services for people with hearing and visual impairments.