Translation guide
How to talk about getting better after being sick in Japanese, from formal medical terms to everyday expressions.
To say someone is recovering or has recovered from an illness in a general sense.
The most common and neutral word for recovery from illness, injury, or fatigue. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'recover'.
病気から回復しました。
I recovered from my illness.
回復が早くて驚きました。
I was surprised at how fast the recovery was.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to get well' or 'to be cured'. Used for illnesses, injuries, or conditions healing naturally. Very common in daily conversation.
風邪が治った。
My cold got better.
この病気は自然に治りますか？
Will this illness heal on its own?
Transitive verb meaning 'to cure' or 'to heal'. Used when someone (a doctor, medicine, etc.) cures an illness. Note the difference from 治る.
Don't confuse with 治る (intransitive). 治す requires an agent who cures something.
医者が私の病気を治してくれた。
The doctor cured my illness.
Same reading as 回復 but specifically refers to recovery from illness. More formal and less common in everyday speech.
ご快復を心よりお祈り申し上げます。
I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.
To emphasize that the illness is completely gone and the person is back to normal.
Means 'complete recovery' or 'fully cured'. Often used in formal contexts or when announcing that someone has fully recovered.
全快まであと一週間です。
It will be one more week until full recovery.
彼は全快して退院した。
He made a full recovery and was discharged from the hospital.
A natural phrase meaning 'to get completely better'. すっかり adds the nuance of 'completely' or 'entirely'.
風邪がすっかり治りました。
My cold has completely gone.
Medical term for 'complete cure' or 'full recovery'. Used in clinical contexts.
To describe the process of slowly getting better after a serious illness.
Refers to recuperation or convalescence, often involving rest and medical care over a period of time.
自宅で療養しています。
I am recuperating at home.
Rest and recuperation, emphasizing quiet rest. Often used when someone takes time off to recover.
The recovery phase or convalescent stage. More technical.
Expressions used to wish someone well when they are sick.
The standard phrase meaning 'Take care of yourself' or 'Get well soon'. Used when someone is ill or injured.
風邪を引いたんですね。お大事に。
I heard you caught a cold. Take care.
A formal expression of sympathy and wishes for recovery, often used in letters or messages.
ご入院と伺い、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。
I heard you were hospitalized, and I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.
Common ways to say you've recovered from common ailments like a cold.
The most natural way to say 'recover from a cold'. Literally 'the cold heals'.
やっと風邪が治った。
My cold finally went away.
To cure a cold (transitive). Used when you actively do something to get rid of a cold.
早く風邪を治したい。
I want to get over this cold quickly.
治る (intransitive) means 'to get better' by itself. 治す (transitive) means 'to cure' something. Use 治る for natural recovery and 治す when someone or something actively cures the illness.
回復 is a bit formal for everyday colds. For minor illnesses, 治る is more natural. 回復 is better for serious illnesses, injuries, or economic recovery.
A complete cure for this disease is difficult.
医者に静養するように言われた。
The doctor told me to rest and recuperate.
回復期には十分な栄養が必要です。
Adequate nutrition is necessary during the recovery phase.