禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)

きんだんしょうじょう
noun
withdrawal symptoms
medicalbody-internal
1. withdrawal symptoms
Physical or psychological symptoms that occur when a person stops using a substance they have become dependent on, such as drugs, alcohol, or caffeine.
禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)が出(で)た。
Withdrawal symptoms appeared.
薬(くすり)をやめたら禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)に苦(くる)しんだ。
After quitting the medication, I suffered from withdrawal symptoms.
If you suddenly stop taking something you've been on for a long time, severe withdrawal symptoms can appear.
2. craving; signs of addiction
Used figuratively to describe an intense, uncontrollable urge or longing for something one has been deprived of, such as a hobby, food, or entertainment.
コーヒーの禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)がひどい。
My coffee withdrawal is terrible.
旅行(りょこう)に行(い)けなくて禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)が出(で)ている。
I haven't been able to travel and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.
ゲームを一週間(いっしゅうかん)もやっていないので、そろそろ禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)が出(で)そうだ。
I haven't played games for a whole week, so I'm about to start getting withdrawal symptoms.

Composed of 禁断(きんだん) (prohibition; abstinence) and 症状(しょうじょう) (symptoms). Originally a medical term describing the physical effects of ceasing substance use, but now widely used in casual conversation for any intense craving.

Common collocations

  • 禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)が出(で)る: to develop withdrawal symptoms
  • 禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)に苦(くる)しむ: to suffer from withdrawal
  • 激(はげ)しい禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう): severe withdrawal symptoms
  • 禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう)を抑(おさ)える: to suppress withdrawal symptoms

Usage

The figurative use (sense 2) is very common in everyday conversation. People frequently say things like コーヒーの禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう) or ゲームの禁断症状(きんだんしょうじょう) in a light, humorous tone.

Similar words

  • 離脱症状(りだつしょうじょう): clinical term for withdrawal syndrome, used more strictly in medical contexts
  • 中毒症状(ちゅうどくしょうじょう): poisoning/intoxication symptoms, focuses on active exposure rather than cessation