1.
remaining life expectancy; time left to live
The estimated or expected amount of time a person has left to live, typically used in medical contexts when discussing terminal illness or prognosis.
余命半年と宣告された。
I was told I had six months to live.
医師から余命を告げられた。
The doctor told me how long I had left to live.
余命わずかと知り、残りの時間を家族と過ごすことにした。
Learning that I had little time left, I decided to spend the remaining time with my family.
Refers to the estimated time a person has left to live. Most commonly encountered in medical contexts, particularly when doctors give a prognosis for terminal illness. A serious, weighty word.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 余命を宣告する: to give a life expectancy prognosis
- 余命半年: six months to live
- 余命わずか: little time left to live
- 余命を告げる: to inform someone of their remaining lifespan
- 平均余命: average life expectancy (statistical term)
USAGE:
In everyday use, 余命 almost always implies a terminal condition. The pattern 余命＋time period＋と宣告される is extremely common in both real medical situations and in fiction. In demographic or actuarial contexts, 平均余命 refers to statistically calculated remaining lifespan.
ETYMOLOGY:
余 (remaining) + 命 (life) — literally "remaining life."