予 備 軍(よびぐん)

よびぐん

noun

reserve army; (figurative) at-risk group; pool of potential cases

health society

1. reserves; reserve army

Literally, military reserves — soldiers held back from active deployment but available if needed.

予備軍(よびぐん)を投入(とうにゅう)した。

They sent in the reserves.

予備軍(よびぐん)の兵士(へいし)が招集(しょうしゅう)された。

Reserve soldiers were called up.

両国(りょうこく)は緊張(きんちょう)緩和(かんわ)のため、予備軍(よびぐん)の削減(さくげん)に合意(ごうい)した。

The two countries agreed to reduce their reserve forces to ease tensions.

2. at-risk group; borderline cases; pool of potential X

Figurative and now far more common: a group of people not yet diagnosed or classified as X, but on track or at risk to become so. Standard in health and social-policy reporting.

糖尿病(とうにょうびょう)予備軍(よびぐん)と言(い)われた。

I was told I'm at risk of becoming diabetic.

若者(わかもの)の失業者(しつぎょうしゃ)予備軍(よびぐん)が増(ふ)えている。

The pool of young people at risk of unemployment is growing.

健康(けんこう)診断(しんだん)の結果(けっか)、高血圧(こうけつあつ)予備軍(よびぐん)に分類(ぶんるい)されたので食事(しょくじ)に気(き)をつけている。

My checkup classified me as at risk for high blood pressure, so I'm watching my diet.

Compound of 予備(よび) (reserve/spare) + 軍(ぐん) (army/group). The figurative sense (sense 2) attaches to disease names, social categories, and economic statuses, naming a group not yet in the category but heading toward it.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (sense 2):

糖尿病(とうにょうびょう)予備軍(よびぐん): pre-diabetic / at risk of diabetes
高血圧(こうけつあつ)予備軍(よびぐん): at risk of hypertension
認知症(にんちしょう)予備軍(よびぐん): at risk of dementia / MCI
メタボ予備軍(よびぐん): at risk of metabolic syndrome
ニート予備軍(よびぐん): at risk of becoming NEET

Usage

In medical writing, 予備軍(よびぐん) often corresponds to English 'pre-' prefixes (pre-diabetic, pre-hypertension) or 'at risk of'.

general

Added 2026.6.2 13:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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