Translation guide
The English word "patient" has two main meanings: a person receiving medical care, and the quality of being able to wait calmly. These meanings are expressed with different Japanese words and patterns.
A person receiving medical treatment or under medical care.
The standard word for a medical patient, used in hospitals, clinics, and general healthcare contexts.
Refers to a sick person in general, not necessarily under formal medical care. Can be used for someone who is ill at home.
Refers to the affected part of a patient's body, not the patient themselves. Used in medical contexts.
The ability to wait calmly, endure delays, or tolerate problems without getting annoyed.
我慢 (がまん) is the everyday word for putting up with something unpleasant, often with a nuance of enduring hardship. 忍耐 (にんたい) is more formal and refers to the virtue of patience or perseverance, often used in writing or speeches.
患者 (かんじゃ) only means a medical patient. Using it to describe someone's character would be incorrect. Use 辛抱強い or 我慢強い instead.
He is a cancer patient.
患者の容態は安定しています。
The patient's condition is stable.
彼女は病人の世話をしている。
She is taking care of a patient (sick person).
Please cool the affected area.
The noun for patience or endurance. Often used in formal or written contexts.
忍耐が必要です。
Patience is necessary.
The most common word for patience, tolerance, or putting up with something. Often used as a verb (我慢する).
An adjective meaning 'patient' as a character trait. Literally 'strong in endurance'.
彼女は辛抱強い人だ。
She is a patient person.
To wait patiently without rushing. '気長' means easygoing or unhurried.
気長に待ちましょう。
Let's be patient and wait.