1.
person with a disability; disabled person
A person who has a physical, intellectual, or mental disability.
The standard legal and administrative term for a person with a disability in Japan. Used in official documents, laws, and public signage. The word covers 身体障害者 (physical disability), 知的障害者 (intellectual disability), and 精神障害者 (mental disability).
Common collocations
- 障害者手帳: disability certificate
- 障害者雇用: employment of people with disabilities
- 障害者支援: disability support
- 障害者差別: discrimination against people with disabilities
- 重度障害者: person with a severe disability
Orthography note
Some organizations and local governments write the word as 障がい者, replacing the kanji 害 (harm) with hiragana to avoid the negative connotation of the character. The alternate kanji 碍 is also occasionally used.