Translation guide
The English word "trauma" covers both physical injury and psychological shock. In Japanese, these are usually expressed with different words. This guide helps you choose the right term depending on whether you mean a physical wound, a deeply distressing experience, or the lasting psychological effects.
Referring to a physical wound or injury, especially in medical or emergency settings.
The standard medical term for physical trauma or external injury. Used in hospitals and formal contexts.
He suffered head trauma in the accident.
General word for injury. Less clinical than 外傷, used in everyday conversation.
I fell and got injured.
Means damage or injury, often used for internal or structural damage (e.g., brain damage). More technical.
He suffered brain damage.
Referring to a deeply disturbing event that causes emotional shock.
The loanword from English, widely used in everyday Japanese to mean psychological trauma. Can be used casually or seriously.
That event has become a trauma for me.
Literally "wound of the heart/mind". A more poetic or emotional way to refer to emotional trauma.
That experience left deep emotional scars.
Referring to something that causes a strong negative reaction because of a past trauma.
トラウマ is the everyday word for psychological trauma, while 心的外傷 is the formal clinical term. In casual conversation, トラウマ is much more common. Use 心的外傷 in medical or academic writing.
He overcame his trauma.
Treatment for psychological trauma takes time.
外傷 (がいしょう) only means physical injury. Using it for emotional trauma would be incorrect. For psychological trauma, use トラウマ or 心的外傷.
The formal psychological/psychiatric term for psychological trauma. Used in clinical contexts.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)