Translation guide
Describes a neck injury from sudden head movement, often in car accidents, or the motion itself. Japanese distinguishes the injury, the motion, and related concepts.
The medical condition, typically from a car accident.
Standard medical term for whiplash injury. Literally 'whip-strike syndrome'.
交通事故でむち打ち症になった。
I got whiplash from a traffic accident.
Common abbreviation for whiplash injury, used in everyday conversation.
むち打ちで首が痛い。
My neck hurts from whiplash.
Formal medical term: cervical sprain. Used in medical reports.
診断は頸椎捻挫でした。
The diagnosis was cervical sprain (whiplash).
The physical action of something moving like a whip, not necessarily an injury.
Describes the whipping motion itself, often in physics or engineering contexts.
衝突の衝撃でむち打ち運動が起きた。
The impact caused a whiplash motion.
Descriptive phrase: 'a motion that bends like a whip'. Used in sports or dance.
彼の投球フォームは鞭のようにしなる動きだ。
His pitching form has a whiplash motion.
Metaphorical use, like 'whiplash' from rapid policy changes or emotional shifts.
Means 'sudden backlash/reaction'. Captures the figurative whiplash effect.
政策の急激な反動で市場が混乱した。
The market was thrown into chaos by the whiplash of policy changes.
Expresses the feeling of being jerked around emotionally or situationally, like whiplash.
彼の気分の変化に振り回される感じがする。
I feel emotional whiplash from his mood swings.
The English word 'whiplash' is often used metaphorically for sudden change or emotional shock. In Japanese, むち打ち primarily refers to the physical injury. For figurative uses, choose phrases like 急激な反動 or 振り回される感じ instead.