Translation guide
To fall back into a previous condition, especially a bad habit, illness, or addiction, after a period of improvement.
To suffer a return of a disease or medical condition after partial recovery.
The most common and general term for relapse of an illness. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'to relapse'.
To return to a destructive behavior, such as substance abuse or a bad habit, after a period of abstinence.
To fall back into any previous condition, not necessarily medical or addictive.
The English word 'relapse' is often translated directly as 再発, but in casual conversation about minor illnesses, ぶり返す is more natural. For non-medical contexts, consider 後戻り or 逆戻り.
病気が再発した。
The illness relapsed.
再発の兆候が見られる。
Signs of a relapse are showing.
A more colloquial verb meaning 'to relapse' or 'to have a recurrence', often used for fevers or colds.
風邪がぶり返した。
My cold relapsed.
Literally 'rekindling', used medically for a flare-up or recurrence of a disease, often implying a worsening after a quiet period.
症状が再燃した。
The symptoms relapsed.
Also used for relapse in addiction contexts. Often combined with 防止 (prevention).
薬物依存の再発を防ぐ。
Prevent a relapse into drug addiction.
Means 'to go back' or 'to revert', often used for slipping back into old habits.
禁煙したのに、また喫煙に逆戻りしてしまった。
Even though I quit smoking, I relapsed back into it.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'back to square one' or 'returning to the original state', often used when efforts are wasted and one relapses.
せっかく治ったのに、また飲み始めて元の木阿弥だ。
He had finally recovered, but he started drinking again and is back to square one.
Similar to 後戻り, but often implies a more sudden or complete reversal.
せっかく上達したのに、練習をサボって逆戻りした。
I had improved so much, but I slacked off on practice and relapsed.