1.
chronic illness; chronic disease
A disease or medical condition that persists over a long period of time, as opposed to an acute condition. Includes conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
A compound of 慢性 (chronic) and 病 (illness, disease). Describes any medical condition that develops slowly and persists for months or years, requiring ongoing management rather than a one-time cure.
Common collocations
- 慢性病を抱える: to suffer from a chronic illness
- 慢性病の予防: prevention of chronic disease
- 慢性病の治療: treatment of chronic illness
- 慢性病と付き合う: to live with a chronic illness
Similar words
- 慢性疾患: chronic disease — a more formal and medical term; 慢性病 is more accessible to general audiences
- 持病: chronic condition, ongoing ailment — refers specifically to a condition someone has been living with; more personal and less clinical
- 生活習慣病: lifestyle disease — a subset of chronic diseases caused by lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise
Cultural note
Japan's universal health insurance system (国民健康保険) provides coverage for chronic illness management, making regular treatment accessible. Annual health checkups (健康診断) are widely practiced to detect chronic conditions early.