余命(よめい)

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(よめい)を宣告(せんこく)する: to give a life expectancy prognosis
• 余命(よめい)半年(はんとし): six months to live
• 余命(よめい)わずか: little time left to live
• 余命(よめい)を告(つ)げる: to inform someone of their remaining lifespan
• 平均(へいきん)余命(よめい): average life expectancy (statistical term)

Usage

In everyday use, 余命(よめい) almost always implies a terminal condition. The pattern 余命(よめい)＋time period＋と宣告(せんこく)される is extremely common in both real medical situations and in fiction. In demographic or actuarial contexts, 平均(へいきん)余命(よめい) refers to statistically calculated remaining lifespan.

Etymology

余(よ) (remaining) + 命(めい) (life) — literally "remaining life."