患者
kanja[kã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑa̠]
In Japanese, the word for a patient (someone receiving medical treatment) is 患者 (kanja). Wiktionary also lists 病人 (byōnin).
Meaning: someone who receives treatment from a doctor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 患者 | kanja | [kã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑa̠] (narrow) |
| 病人 | byōnin | [bʲo̞ːɲ̟ĩɴ] (narrow) |
患者 is the term used in medical contexts to refer to a person receiving medical treatment. Related terms like 忍耐強い, 我慢強い or 気が長い can be used to describe the adjective meaning 'patient' in the sense of not losing one's temper while waiting.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 患者 is composed of the characters for 'patient/suffering' (患) and 'person' (者).
Which one should you use?
While 患者 is used in clinical or medical contexts, 病人 refers more generally to a sick person or someone who is bedridden and is often used in casual conversation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking about a patient with respect, especially in a hospital setting, the honorific suffix -san is frequently added to the word to form 患者さん.
How do you pronounce it?
kanja
Did you know?
- If you describe a person as 気が長い (ki ga nagai) to mean they are 'patient', you are literally saying their 'spirit/energy is long', a metaphorical way of describing a slow-to-react temperament.
- In historical Japanese contexts, the word 病人 was used more broadly to describe anyone with a chronic ailment, whereas 患者 is a more modern term aligned with Western clinical systems.
- The suffix 者 in 患者 is used across many professional and legal categories to define a person by their role, such as 候補者 for 'candidate'.
Examples in context
- 私は患者です。I'm a patient.This sentence is useful for stating that you are a patient using 患者.Tatoeba #2348820 by arnab, translation #2348816 by CK
- 患者さんは峠を越しました。The patient is now out of danger.This sentence uses 患者 to describe a patient who has passed the critical stage of an illness.Tatoeba #1278405 by bunbuku, translation #318480 by CK
- その患者は血を見て卒倒した。The patient fainted at the sight of blood.This sentence uses 患者 to describe a patient fainting at the sight of blood.Tatoeba #211603 by bunbuku, translation #48879 by CK
- 医師は患者に正しい診断を伝えました。The doctor conveyed the correct diagnosis to the patient.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking at a hospital.
- 結衣 Yui外に患者さんがたくさん待っています。Soto ni kanja-san ga takusan matte imasu.There are many patients waiting outside.
- 蓮 Ren今日は本当に混んでいますね。Kyou wa hontou ni konde imasu ne.It is really crowded today, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yui次の患者さんを呼んでください。Tsugi no kanja-san o yonde kudasai.Please call the next patient.
- 蓮 Renわかりました。すぐに呼びます。Wakarimashita. Sugu ni yobimasu.Understood. I will call them right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “patient” translations and entries 患者, 病人, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
