壊死
eshi[e̞ɕi]
The English word "necrosis" is translated into Japanese as 壊死 (eshi).
壊死 is a technical medical term used in clinical settings to describe tissue death.
Meaning: localized death of cells or tissue (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of two kanji: 壊 (break/destroy) and 死 (death).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is eshi.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 死 is read as 'shi', which is a homophone for the number 'four'. This is why the number four is often avoided in hospitals or hotels.
- The word 壊死 is used specifically for cell death, whereas 死滅 is used when an entire species or population becomes extinct.
- The phrase 壊死 is often paired with 壊疽 ('gangrene'), but while 壊死 refers to the cellular process, 壊疽 refers to the clinical manifestation of the dead tissue.
Examples in context
- 組織壊死Tissue necrosis
- 壊死性乳頭状腫瘍Necrotic papilloma
- その組織は死んでるThat tissue is dead.
- 組織の壊死が確認されました。Soshiki no eshi ga kakunin saremashita.Tissue necrosis was confirmed.
- 壊死した部分を取り除く必要があります。Eshi shita bubun o torinozuku hitsuyō ga arimasu.It is necessary to remove the necrotic part.
- 細胞の壊死は非常に危険です。Saibō no eshi wa hijō ni kiken desu.Cellular necrosis is very dangerous.
Example conversation
A doctor is explaining a diagnosis to a patient.
- 陽葵 Himari検査の結果、部分的に壊死が見られます。Kensa no kekka, bubun-teki ni eshi ga miraremasu.The test results show partial necrosis.
- 健太 Kentaそれはどういう状態ですか？Sore wa dou iu joutai desu ka?What kind of condition is that?
- 陽葵 Himari組織が死んでしまった状態です。Soshiki ga shinde shimatta joutai desu.It is a state where the tissue has died.
- 健太 Kenta分かりました。治療をお願いします。Wakarimashita. Chiryou o onegai shimasu.I understand. Please proceed with the treatment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “necrosis” translations and entries 壊死, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
