Translation guide
A mental disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self, and behavior. In Japanese, the term has changed from 精神分裂病 to 統合失調症 to reduce stigma.
The current standard medical term for schizophrenia, adopted in 2002 to replace the stigmatizing 精神分裂病.
He was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Medication is effective in treating schizophrenia.
The older term for schizophrenia, literally 'mind-split disease'. Now considered stigmatizing and largely replaced by 統合失調症. May still appear in historical contexts or older literature.
Avoid using this term in modern contexts; it is outdated and stigmatizing.
It used to be called schizophrenia (lit. mind-split disease).
Casual or non-clinical ways to refer to schizophrenia or its symptoms, often used in everyday conversation.
Abbreviation of 統合失調症, used informally. Can be derogatory depending on context, so use with caution.
Can be offensive; avoid in formal or respectful contexts.
I saw someone called 'toushitsu' online.
Internet slang derived from 'mental health', often used to describe someone with mental health issues, including schizophrenia-like symptoms. Very informal and can be derogatory.
Highly informal and potentially offensive; not a clinical term.
That person seems a bit mentally unstable.
Talking about specific symptoms associated with schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, without necessarily using the diagnosis name.
Hallucination. A common symptom of schizophrenia, but also occurs in other conditions.
He said he was seeing hallucinations.
Delusion. Another key symptom of schizophrenia.
Disorganized thinking, a symptom of schizophrenia. Literally 'thoughts don't come together'.
The term 精神分裂病 (seishin bunretsu byō) was officially replaced by 統合失調症 (tōgō shitchō shō) in 2002 by the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology. Using the old term is considered stigmatizing and outdated. Always use 統合失調症 in modern contexts.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers may describe specific symptoms (幻覚, 妄想) rather than using the clinical diagnosis. This can be less stigmatizing and more descriptive.
I hear voices.
被害妄想があるようだ。
He seems to have persecutory delusions.
Lately, I've been having trouble organizing my thoughts.