deadly disease; terminal illness
A disease that leads to death; often used in serious or literary contexts. Also the Japanese title of Kierkegaard's 'The Sickness Unto Death'.
He was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Kierkegaard's 'The Sickness Unto Death' is an important work of existentialism.
末期 is 'terminal stage' (of an illness), often used in medical contexts, whereas 死に至る病 is a more literary or philosophical expression for the disease itself.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana-mixed variant; less common but still used.
Phrase composed of 死に (continuative form of 死ぬ 'to die') + 至る 'to lead to' + 病 'disease'. The expression is a direct translation of the Danish title 'Sygdommen til Døden' by Søren Kierkegaard.