(けんとうしき)

けんとうしき
noun
sense of orientation (to time, place, person)
1. orientation; awareness of time, place, and person
The cognitive ability to know what day it is, where one is, and who is around. A standard clinical assessment item; its loss (見当識障害(けんとうしきしょうがい)) is a hallmark of dementia and other cognitive impairment.
祖母(そぼ)見当識(けんとうしき)低下(ていか)してきた。
My grandmother's orientation has been declining.
患者(かんじゃ)見当識(けんとうしき)確認(かくにん)した。
I checked the patient's orientation.
認知症(にんちしょう)初期(しょき)症状(しょうじょう)として、見当識(けんとうしき)障害(しょうがい)(あらわ)れることが(おお)い。
Disorientation often appears as an early symptom of dementia.

Compound of 見当(けんとう) (rough estimate; bearings) + (しき) (consciousness; recognition). Almost exclusively a clinical/medical term — not used about day-to-day getting lost.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 見当識(けんとうしき)障害(しょうがい): disorientation; orientation impairment
  • 時間(じかん)/場所(ばしょ)/人物(じんぶつ)(たい)する見当識(けんとうしき): orientation to time / place / person
  • 見当識(けんとうしき)低下(ていか)する: orientation declines

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 方向感覚(ほうこうかんかく): sense of direction — about navigating space, not clinical awareness
  • 意識(いしき): consciousness — broader; whether one is awake and aware