How to say "autism" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 自閉症じへいしょうnounThe regular word for autism as a developmental condition, whether clinical or everyday. Use this in nearly any context: medical settings, descriptions of a person, or general discussion of the condition.
- 自閉じへいnounA less common word glossed as autism, but by itself it is seldom the word you want; it reads more like a general notion of withdrawal or being closed off than a name for the condition.
Use 自閉症 for the medical/developmental condition of autism in virtually all contexts; 自閉 by itself is a less common word and rarely the right choice when you mean autism.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
