寝(ね)たきり

ねたきり

noun, na-adjective

bedridden, confined to bed

1. bedridden, confined to bed

Unable to get out of bed due to illness, injury, or old age. Describes a state of being permanently or semi-permanently in bed.

祖母(そぼ)は寝(ね)たきりだ。

My grandmother is bedridden.

事故(じこ)の後(あと)、寝(ね)たきりの生活(せいかつ)が続(つづ)いている。

Life confined to bed has continued since the accident.

寝(ね)たきりの高齢者(こうれいしゃ)を介護(かいご)するのは体力的(たいりょくてき)にも精神的(せいしんてき)にも大(おお)きな負担(ふたん)だ。

Caring for a bedridden elderly person is a great burden both physically and mentally.

寝(ね)たきり is formed from 寝(ね)た (past tense of 寝(ね)る, to lie down) + きり (only, just — indicating a state that does not change). It literally means "lying down and staying that way."

Common collocations

寝(ね)たきりの高齢者(こうれいしゃ) (bedridden elderly person)
寝(ね)たきりの状態(じょうたい) (bedridden condition)
寝(ね)たきりになる (to become bedridden)
寝(ね)たきり防止(ぼうし) (prevention of becoming bedridden)

Usage

This is an important word in discussions of aging, healthcare, and nursing care (介護(かいご)) in Japan. 寝(ね)たきりにならない (not becoming bedridden) is a common health goal for the elderly. The word carries a serious, often somber tone.

general

Added 2026.2.21 1:46 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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