Translation guide
A learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and spelling. In Japanese, the most common term is ディスレクシア, but more formal or clinical terms exist. This guide helps you express the concept naturally in Japanese.
To refer to dyslexia in everyday conversation or non-specialist contexts.
The most common and widely understood term, borrowed from English. Suitable for most situations.
彼はディスレクシアです。
He has dyslexia.
ディスレクシアの子ども向けの教材があります。
There are teaching materials for children with dyslexia.
A more formal, clinical term meaning 'reading disorder'. Often used in medical or educational settings.
読字障害の診断を受けました。
I was diagnosed with dyslexia.
A clinical term for acquired dyslexia (alexia) or sometimes used for developmental dyslexia. Less common in everyday language.
失読症は脳の損傷によって起こることがあります。
Dyslexia can occur due to brain damage.
To say that a person has dyslexia or is dyslexic.
The simplest way to state that someone has dyslexia. Use です for politeness.
私はディスレクシアです。
I am dyslexic.
うちの子はディスレクシアなんです。
My child is dyslexic.
A more formal way to say someone has a reading disorder. Often used in professional contexts.
この生徒は読字障害があります。
This student has dyslexia.
To talk about the specific challenges of dyslexia, such as trouble reading or writing.
A natural, non-clinical way to describe difficulty with reading and writing. Often used when explaining dyslexia to others.
ディスレクシアの人は読み書きが苦手なことが多いです。
People with dyslexia often struggle with reading and writing.
読み書きが苦手で、学校で困っています。
I have trouble reading and writing, and I'm struggling at school.
Literally 'reading characters is difficult'. A straightforward way to describe the core symptom.
文字を読むのが難しくて、時間がかかります。
It's hard for me to read characters, so it takes time.
ディスレクシア is the everyday term, while 読字障害 is more formal and clinical. In casual conversation, ディスレクシア is preferred. In official documents or medical reports, 読字障害 may be used.
友達に「ディスレクシアなんだ」と言いました。
I told my friend, 'I'm dyslexic.'
診断書には「読字障害」と書かれていました。
The medical certificate said 'reading disorder'.
If the listener is unfamiliar with dyslexia, you can explain it as 文字を読むのが苦手な特性 (a characteristic of having difficulty reading characters). This is often more effective than using a technical term.
ディスレクシアって、文字を読むのが苦手な特性のことです。
Dyslexia is a characteristic where you have difficulty reading characters.
息子がディスレクシアと診断されました。
My son was diagnosed with dyslexia.
彼女はディスレクシアなので、オーディオブックを使っています。
She has dyslexia, so she uses audiobooks.