Translation guide
The period of recovery after an illness, injury, or medical treatment. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through nouns, verbs, and set phrases that emphasize rest and gradual recovery.
Referring to the time spent resting and regaining strength after being sick or having an operation.
The most common and general term for convalescence, covering both medical treatment and rest. Used for recovery at home or in a facility.
退院後、自宅で療養しています。
After leaving the hospital, I'm convalescing at home.
療養のために仕事を休んでいます。
I'm taking time off work to recuperate.
Emphasizes rest and quiet recuperation, often in a peaceful environment. Less medical than 療養.
医者に静養するように言われました。
The doctor told me to rest and recuperate.
温泉で静養しています。
I'm recuperating at a hot spring resort.
Literally 'recovery period', used in medical or formal contexts to describe the convalescent phase.
回復期には十分な栄養が必要です。
Adequate nutrition is necessary during convalescence.
A traditional term meaning to take care of one's health, often through rest, diet, and lifestyle during recovery.
しばらく養生してください。
Please take it easy and recuperate for a while.
Describing the process of getting better, often used as a verb.
The standard verb for 'recover'. Can be used for health, strength, or economic recovery.
彼は順調に回復しています。
He is recovering smoothly.
体力が回復するまで休んでください。
Please rest until your strength recovers.
A slightly formal phrase meaning 'to be on the mend' or 'to be convalescing favorably'.
おかげさまで、快方に向かっています。
Thankfully, I'm on the mend.
Medical term for 'healing' or 'cure', often used in clinical contexts. Not for everyday conversation.
傷の治癒には時間がかかります。
Healing of the wound takes time.
Referring to a facility or location where one recuperates.
A sanatorium or convalescent home, often for long-term recovery from illness like tuberculosis in the past, now used for general recuperation facilities.
彼は療養所で静養しています。
He is recuperating at a sanatorium.
A rest facility or resort for health recuperation, often run by companies or health insurance associations for employees.
会社の保養所で療養します。
I'll recuperate at the company's rest facility.
療養 (りょうよう) is the most general and medical term, often involving treatment. 静養 (せいよう) emphasizes quiet rest, often in a peaceful setting. 養生 (ようじょう) is a broader, traditional concept of health maintenance through lifestyle, not just recovery from illness.
English 'convalescence' is a noun, but in Japanese it's more natural to use verbs like 回復する or 療養する, or phrases like 静養中 (せいようちゅう, 'in the midst of recuperation'). Using a noun like 回復期 is possible but sounds formal or medical.
彼女は手術後、まだ療養中です。
She is still in convalescence after the surgery.
回復には時間がかかることもあります。
Convalescence can be a slow process.
More natural than a literal translation using a noun.