Health Vocabulary — Japanese N1
Essential Japanese vocabulary for illness, medicine, hospitals, exercise, nutrition. N1 level reference with readings, romaji, and examples.
Health Vocabulary — JLPT N1
At the N1 level, health-related vocabulary shifts from basic symptoms to nuanced medical terminology, systemic health issues, and professional healthcare discourse. Mastering these terms is essential for understanding news reports on public health, reading medical documentation, or navigating complex healthcare situations in Japan.
Core Vocabulary
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English | Part of Speech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 疾患 | しっかん | shikkan | disease/ailment | Noun |
| 慢性 | まんせい | mansei | chronic | Noun/Na-adj |
| 急性 | きゅうせい | kyūsei | acute | Noun/Na-adj |
| 感染 | かんせん | kansen | infection | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 症状 | しょうじょう | shōjō | symptom | Noun |
| 緩和 | かんわ | kanwa | relief/mitigation | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 処方 | しょほう | shohō | prescription | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 診断 | しんだん | shindan | diagnosis | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 予後 | よご | yogo | prognosis | Noun |
| 悪化 | あっか | akka | deterioration | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 回復 | かいふく | kaifuku | recovery | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 炎症 | えんしょう | enshō | inflammation | Noun |
| 免疫 | めんえき | men'eki | immunity | Noun |
| 摂取 | せっしゅ | sesshu | intake/ingestion | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 栄養失調 | えいようしっちょう | eiyō-shitchō | malnutrition | Noun |
| 禁忌 | きんき | kinki | contraindication | Noun |
| 副作用 | ふくさよう | fukusayō | side effect | Noun |
| 緩和ケア | かんわケア | kanwa kea | palliative care | Noun |
| 摂生 | せっせい | sessei | healthy living/moderation | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 倦怠感 | けんたいかん | kentaikan | malaise/fatigue | Noun |
| 腫瘍 | しゅよう | shuyō | tumor | Noun |
| 悪性 | あくせい | akusei | malignant | Noun/Na-adj |
| 良性 | りょうせい | ryōsei | benign | Noun/Na-adj |
| 伝染 | でんせん | densen | contagion | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 隔離 | かくり | kakuri | isolation/quarantine | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 投薬 | とうやく | tōyaku | medication/dosing | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 臨床 | りんしょう | rinshō | clinical | Noun |
| 検査 | けんさ | kensa | examination/test | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 経過観察 | けいかかんさつ | keika kansatsu | follow-up observation | Noun |
| 完治 | かんち | kanchi | complete recovery | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 衰弱 | すいじゃく | suijaku | debility/weakness | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 合併症 | がっぺいしょう | gappeishō | complication | Noun |
| 遺伝子 | いでんし | idenshi | gene | Noun |
| 代謝 | たいしゃ | taisha | metabolism | Noun |
| 肥満 | ひまん | himan | obesity | Noun/Na-adj |
| 禁酒 | きんしゅ | kinshu | abstinence from alcohol | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 禁煙 | きんえん | kin'en | non-smoking | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 処置 | しょち | shochi | treatment/measure | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 緩和 | かんわ | kanwa | relief | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 精神衛生 | せいしんえいせい | seishin eisei | mental health | Noun |
| 負荷 | ふか | fuka | load/stress | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 循環器 | じゅんかんき | junkanki | circulatory system | Noun |
| 呼吸器 | こきゅうき | kokyūki | respiratory system | Noun |
| 消化器 | しょうかき | shōkaki | digestive system | Noun |
| 臓器 | ぞうき | zōki | organ | Noun |
Key Phrases
- 経過を観察しましょう。 | Keika o kansatsu shimashō. | Let's observe the progress.
- 副作用が出る可能性があります。 | Fukusayō ga deru kanōsei ga arimasu. | There is a possibility of side effects.
- 生活習慣を改善する必要があります。 | Seikatsu shūkan o kaizen suru hitsuyō ga arimasu. | It is necessary to improve lifestyle habits.
- 早期発見が重要です。 | Sōki hakken ga jūyō desu. | Early detection is important.
- 栄養バランスを考慮した食事。 | Eiyō baransu o kōryo shita shokuji. | A diet that considers nutritional balance.
- 激しい運動は控えてください。 | Hageshii undō wa hikaete kudasai. | Please refrain from strenuous exercise.
- 症状が緩和するまで安静にしてください。 | Shōjō ga kanwa suru made ansei ni shite kudasai. | Please rest until the symptoms subside.
- 合併症を引き起こす恐れがあります。 | Gappeishō o hikiokosu osore ga arimasu. | There is a risk of causing complications.
- 臨床試験の結果が出ました。 | Rinshō shiken no kekka ga demashita. | The clinical trial results have been released.
- 慢性的な疲労を感じています。 | Manseiteki na hirō o kanjite imasu. | I am feeling chronic fatigue.
Practice Dialogue
Doctor: 検査の結果、慢性的な炎症が見られます。 | Kensa no kekka, manseiteki na enshō ga miraremasu. | The test results show chronic inflammation. Patient: それは、何か深刻な病気でしょうか？ | Sore wa, nanika shinkoku na byōki deshō ka? | Is that a serious illness? Doctor: 今すぐ命に関わるものではありませんが、放置すると悪化します。 | Ima sugu inochi ni kakawaru mono de wa arimasen ga, hōchi suru to akka shimasu. | It is not life-threatening right now, but it will deteriorate if left untreated. Patient: どのような処置が必要ですか？ | Dono yō na shochi ga hitsuyō desu ka? | What kind of treatment is necessary? Doctor: まずは投薬で症状を緩和し、生活習慣を改善しましょう。 | Mazu wa tōyaku de shōjō o kanwa shi, seikatsu shūkan o kaizen shimashō. | First, let's relieve the symptoms with medication and improve your lifestyle habits. Patient: 運動もした方がいいですか？ | Undō mo shita hō ga ii desu ka? | Should I also exercise? Doctor: はい、ただし負荷のかかりすぎには注意してください。 | Hai, tadashi fuka no kakarisugi ni wa chūi shite kudasai. | Yes, but please be careful not to overexert yourself. Patient: わかりました。食事制限はありますか？ | Wakarimashita. Shokuji seigen wa arimasu ka? | Understood. Are there any dietary restrictions? Doctor: 栄養バランスを整え、塩分を控えてください。 | Eiyō baransu o totonoe, enbun o hikaete kudasai. | Balance your nutrition and reduce your salt intake. Patient: ありがとうございます。経過観察をお願いします。 | Arigatō gozaimasu. Keika kansatsu o onegai shimasu. | Thank you. I'll leave the follow-up observation to you.
Self-Study Tips
- Contextual Reading: Read Japanese news articles from sites like NHK News Web Easy or Nikkei regarding health policy. This helps you see how N1 vocabulary is used in formal, professional contexts.
- Medical Dictionary App: Download a Japanese-Japanese dictionary (like Daijisen) to look up these terms. Reading the definitions in Japanese will help you grasp the nuance better than English translations.
- Flashcard Association: Use Anki to create cards that pair the "Problem" (e.g., 慢性炎症) with the "Solution" (e.g., 投薬・生活改善). This builds a mental map of medical logic.
- Shadowing: Listen to health-related podcasts or YouTube videos by Japanese doctors. Mimic their professional tone and use of formal grammar (Keigo) when discussing health.