Translation guide
Expresses recovery from illness, injury, or emotional pain. Japanese uses different verbs depending on whether the healing is physical, emotional, or metaphorical, and whether it is natural or caused by treatment.
To recover from a physical ailment or wound; to get better.
Intransitive verb for natural recovery from illness or injury. The subject is the person or body part that heals.
風邪が治った。
My cold got better.
傷が治るまで時間がかかる。
It takes time for the wound to heal.
Formal/medical term for healing or recovery. Often used in written or technical contexts.
傷は完全に治癒した。
The wound healed completely.
General term for recovery, used for health, strength, or condition. Broader than just healing.
彼は病気から回復した。
He recovered from his illness.
To recover from emotional pain, trauma, or spiritual distress; to feel whole again.
Intransitive verb for emotional or spiritual healing. Often used for deep wounds, grief, or heartache.
心の傷が癒えるまでには時間がかかる。
It takes time for emotional wounds to heal.
Passive form of 癒す (to heal). Commonly used to describe being healed or soothed by something, like nature, music, or a person.
美しい音楽に心が癒された。
My heart was healed by the beautiful music.
温泉で疲れが癒された。
My fatigue was healed at the hot spring.
To recover emotionally, get back on one's feet after a setback. Focuses on regaining strength.
To be healed by a specific agent, such as medicine, therapy, or a miracle.
To have someone heal you; receiving treatment. Uses the transitive verb 治す.
医者に風邪を治してもらった。
I had my cold healed by the doctor.
To have someone heal you emotionally or spiritually. Uses the transitive verb 癒す.
カウンセラーに心の傷を癒してもらった。
I had my emotional wounds healed by the counselor.
Passive form of 治す. Used when the healing is done by someone else, often in a medical or miraculous context.
彼は神の力で治された。
He was healed by the power of God.
治る is for physical ailments/injuries healing naturally. 癒える is for emotional/spiritual healing, often literary. 回復する is general recovery of health or condition, not limited to healing.
治る is only for physical conditions. For emotional healing, use 癒える or 癒される.
彼は失恋から立ち直った。
He healed from his broken heart.