Translation guide
To fall back into a previous condition, especially a bad habit, illness, or addiction, after a period of improvement.
To suffer a return of a disease or medical condition after partial recovery.
The most common and general term for relapse of an illness. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'to relapse'.
To return to a destructive behavior, such as substance abuse or a bad habit, after a period of abstinence.
To fall back into any previous condition, not necessarily medical or addictive.
The English word 'relapse' is often translated directly as 再発, but in casual conversation about minor illnesses, ぶり返す is more natural. For non-medical contexts, consider 後戻り or 逆戻り.
病気が再発した。
The illness relapsed.
Signs of a relapse are showing.
A more colloquial verb meaning 'to relapse' or 'to have a recurrence', often used for fevers or colds.
My cold relapsed.
Literally 'rekindling', used medically for a flare-up or recurrence of a disease, often implying a worsening after a quiet period.
The symptoms relapsed.
Also used for relapse in addiction contexts. Often combined with 防止 (prevention).
Prevent a relapse into drug addiction.
Means 'to go back' or 'to revert', often used for slipping back into old habits.
Even though I quit smoking, I relapsed back into it.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'back to square one' or 'returning to the original state', often used when efforts are wasted and one relapses.
He had finally recovered, but he started drinking again and is back to square one.
The economy relapses.
Similar to 後戻り, but often implies a more sudden or complete reversal.
I had improved so much, but I slacked off on practice and relapsed.