How to say "rehabilitation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 回復かいふくnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA broad word for returning to a former state — health, strength, or conditions. It covers recovery from illness or injury, but as 'rehabilitation' it names the recovery itself, not the therapy process.
- nounThe short form of リハビリテーション, referring to a patient's rehabilitation after illness, injury, or surgery — regaining movement and function through training and exercise.
- nounThe full loanword, the term used in medicine for helping patients regain lost physical or social function after illness, injury, or disability; リハビリ is its abbreviation.
- 復旧ふっきゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbRehabilitation here means restoring damaged infrastructure, facilities, or services to working order, such as power, transport, or communications after a disaster. It applies to things and systems, not a person's medical rehabilitation.
- 再建さいけんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbRebuilding or reconstruction: bringing back something that has collapsed or failed, such as an economy, a company, or a building. Its 'rehabilitation' sense is institutional or economic, not medical.
Use 「リハビリ」 or the full 「リハビリテーション」 for a patient's rehabilitation after illness or injury; 回復 is general recovery or restoration to a former state; 復旧 restores damaged infrastructure or services; 再建 rebuilds failed organizations or economies.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
