脳卒中

• Reading: のうそっちゅう
• Romaji: nousocchuu
• Kanji breakdown: 脳 (nou) — brain; 卒 (sotsu) — sudden, abrupt; 中 (chuu) — struck, hit
• Pronunciation: /noː.so.t͡ɕɯː/

Meaning

Stroke; cerebrovascular accident (CVA). A sudden neurological emergency caused by disrupted blood flow to the brain.

An umbrella term covering both 脳梗塞 (cerebral infarction, ischaemic stroke) and 脳出血 (cerebral haemorrhage). A leading cause of death and long-term disability in Japan. Early warning signs are summarised in the 顔・腕・言葉・時間 (face, arm, speech, time) mnemonic. Post-stroke rehabilitation is referred to as 脳卒中リハビリ.

Examples

1. 父は突然の脳卒中で倒れ、救急車で病院に運ばれた。 My father collapsed from a sudden stroke and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.
2. 脳卒中の後遺症として、言語障害や半身麻痺が残ることがある。 Aftereffects of a stroke can include speech impairment and paralysis on one side of the body.
3. 高血圧は脳卒中の主要な危険因子として知られている。 High blood pressure is known to be a major risk factor for stroke.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, emergency, chronic disease, elderly care, neurology

Tone: clinical, serious

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 脳 (nou) means brain, 卒 (sotsu) means sudden or abrupt, and 中 (chuu) means to be struck or hit. The term literally suggests a sudden strike to the brain, reflecting the acute onset of the condition. It has been used in Chinese classical medicine.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Universal