also: らいびょう
leper; person with leprosy
Refers to a person suffering from leprosy (Hansen's disease). The term is now considered sensitive and potentially discriminatory; in modern medical and social contexts, 'ハンセン病患者' or 'ハンセン病回復者' is preferred.
In the past, lepers were isolated from society.
この資料では「癩病患者」という表現が使われているが、現在では差別的とされる。
This document uses the term '癩病患者', but it is now considered discriminatory.
Modern, neutral term for Hansen's disease (leprosy). '癩病' is the older, now stigmatized term.
Preferred contemporary term for a person with Hansen's disease, replacing the discriminatory '癩病患者'.
Standard kanji spelling. The first character 癩 is not a jōyō kanji and may be unfamiliar to some readers.
Common kana-mixed spelling for 'leprosy' itself; the full compound らい病患者 is also seen.
Compound of 癩病 (らいびょう, 'leprosy') + 患者 (かんじゃ, 'patient'). 癩 is a non-jōyō kanji specifically associated with leprosy.