重 篤(じゅうとく)

じゅうとく

na-adjective

serious; critical; grave (of illness)

1. serious; critical; grave (of a medical condition)

A medical term describing an extremely severe condition where the patient's life may be in danger. More severe than 重症(じゅうしょう) (serious illness).

患者(かんじゃ)は重篤(じゅうとく)な状態(じょうたい)にある。

The patient is in critical condition.

重篤(じゅうとく)な副作用(ふくさよう)が報告(ほうこく)された。

Serious side effects were reported.

感染症(かんせんしょう)が重篤(じゅうとく)になる前(まえ)に、早(はや)めに治療(ちりょう)を始(はじ)めることが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It is important to begin treatment early before the infection becomes critical.

A formal medical term indicating the most severe level of illness. Frequently encountered in news reports about health crises, drug safety, and patient outcomes.

Severity scale

Japanese medical terminology uses a scale of increasing severity:

軽症(けいしょう): mild (condition)
中等症(ちゅうとうしょう): moderate
重症(じゅうしょう): serious, severe
重篤(じゅうとく): critical, life-threatening (the most severe)

Common collocations

重篤(じゅうとく)な状態(じょうたい): critical condition
重篤(じゅうとく)な副作用(ふくさよう): serious side effects
重篤(じゅうとく)な合併症(がっぺいしょう): serious complications
重篤(じゅうとく)患者(かんじゃ): critically ill patient

Similar words

重症(じゅうしょう): serious illness — severe but not necessarily life-threatening
危篤(きとく): on the verge of death — even more severe; imminent death
深刻(しんこく): serious, grave — used more broadly for situations, not just medical

Related Words

Compare: 重症(じゅうしょう) (serious illness)

Compare: 危篤(きとく) (on the verge of death)

Compare: 深刻(しんこく) (serious, grave)

general

Added 2026.4.3 4:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

21500/21643_juutoku