予後

• Reading: よご
• Romaji: yogo
• Kanji breakdown: 予 (yo) — beforehand, advance, predict; 後 (go) — after, later, behind
• Pronunciation: /jo.ɡo/

Meaning

Prognosis. The predicted course and outcome of a disease or medical condition.

A noun used in medical contexts to describe the expected future course of a disease — whether a patient is likely to recover, how long recovery may take, or the long-term outlook. Common collocations include 予後が良い (good prognosis), 予後が悪い (poor prognosis), and 予後不良 (unfavourable prognosis). While primarily a medical term, it is widely understood by the general public through health news and hospital consultations.

Examples

1. 早期に発見すれば予後が良いと言われている。 They say the prognosis is good if it's caught early.
2. 医師から予後について詳しく説明を受けた。 I received a detailed explanation from the doctor about the prognosis.
3. この病気は治療すれば予後は悪くない。 The prognosis for this illness isn't bad if treated.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, hospital consultations, health news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 予 (yo, beforehand/in advance) + 後 (go, after/later). Literally 'predicting the after' — what comes after treatment or diagnosis.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated