回復

• Reading: かいふく
• Romaji: kaifuku
• Kanji breakdown: 回 (kai) — turn around, return; 復 (fuku) — restore, repeat
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ɸɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

Recovery; restoration; improvement. Returning to a normal or healthy state.

A suru-verb (回復する) that can be both transitive and intransitive. Used broadly beyond medicine — for economic recovery (景気回復), data recovery, and physical recovery. Common phrases include 体力を回復する (to recover one's strength) and 回復に向かう (to be heading toward recovery).

Examples

1. 風邪から回復するのに一週間かかった。 It took a week to recover from the cold.
2. 手術後の回復は順調だと医師が言った。 The doctor said that recovery after the surgery is going smoothly.
3. 景気が少しずつ回復してきている。 The economy is gradually recovering.

Usage Guide

Context: health, economics, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 回 (kai, to turn around/return) and 復 (fuku, to restore/repeat). Literally 'turn back and restore,' describing the process of returning to a previous better state.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal