脳卒中
nō-sotchū[no̞ːso̞t̚t͡ɕɨː]
The Japanese word for stroke is 脳卒中 (nō-sotchū).
脳卒中 is the general medical term for a stroke, which is a loss of brain function arising when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted.
Meaning: loss of brain function arising when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 脳 (brain) and 卒中 (stroke/sudden hit).
Which one should you use?
While 脳卒中 is the general medical term for a stroke, specific types like 脳梗塞 (cerebral infarction) or 脳出血 (cerebral hemorrhage) are often used in clinical contexts.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
nō-sotchū
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 卒 ('sotsu') in 脳卒中 is the same character used in 卒業 ('graduation'). In this context, it evokes the idea of a sudden completion or an abrupt end.
- In casual conversation, people rarely use the formal 脳卒中 and instead describe the specific type, such as 'blood vessel burst' or 'blockage'.
- While 脳卒中 is the medical term, Japanese people often use the phrase 脳血管障害 ('cerebrovascular disorder') in official insurance or government documents to cover all types of strokes.
Examples in context
- 去年脳卒中を起こしました。I had a stroke last year.This sentence is useful for stating that you had a stroke in the previous year using 脳卒中.Tatoeba #182199 by bunbuku, translation #19409 by CK
- 私は脳卒中を起こした。I had a stroke.Tatoeba #1005708 by mookeee, translation #2331634 by CK
- 脳卒中は命に関わる病気です。nōsotchū wa inochi ni kakawaru byōki desu.A stroke is a life-threatening disease.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about a medical news report.
- 健太 Kenta最近、脳卒中が増えているらしいよ。Saikin, nōsotchū ga fuete iru rashii yo.I heard that strokes have been increasing lately.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんですね。怖い病気ですね。Sō nan desu ne. Kowai byōki desu ne.Is that so? It's a scary disease.
- 健太 Kenta予防が一番大切なんだって。Yobō ga ichiban taisetsu nan datte.They say prevention is the most important thing.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんも体に気をつけてね。Kenta-san mo karada ni ki o tsukete ne.Kenta, you should take care of your health too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stroke” translations and entries 脳卒中, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
