1.
terminal symptoms; signs of a hopeless final stage
Literally the symptoms of the terminal stage of an illness. Very often used figuratively for an organization or situation in irreversible decline.
末期症状が現れる。
for terminal symptoms to appear.
患者に末期症状が見られた。
Terminal symptoms were observed in the patient.
社員が次々に辞めていくこの会社は、もはや末期症状だ。
With employees quitting one after another, this company is already in its death throes.
Literal in medicine, but the figurative use for a failing organization or system is at least as common in everyday speech.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 末期症状が出る: for terminal symptoms to show
- 末期症状を呈する: to display signs of terminal decline
- もはや末期症状だ: to be already beyond saving
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 末期: final stage; terminal phase — the period itself, not its symptoms
- 重症: serious condition — grave but not necessarily terminal