noun
Medical term for dementia. Now considered a sensitive or derogatory label; the preferred modern term is 認知症. Still encountered in older texts and legal contexts.
See also: 認知症
高齢化に伴い、痴呆の患者数は増加している。
With the aging population, the number of dementia patients is increasing.
最近では「痴呆」ではなく「認知症」という言葉が使われる。
Nowadays the term 認知症 is used instead of 痴呆.
noun
stupidity; foolishness; fool; idiot
Derogatory term for stupidity or a foolish person. Strongly pejorative; used as an insult. Less common in modern polite conversation.
そんなことをするなんて、お前は痴呆か。
Are you an idiot to do something like that?
The modern, neutral medical term for dementia, replacing 痴呆 which is now considered insensitive.
Composed of 痴 (foolish, stupid) and 呆 (amazed, stunned). The combination originally referred to mental dullness or senility. The medical sense 'dementia' developed later, but the term has become stigmatized.