慢性

• Reading: まんせい
• Romaji: mansei
• Kanji breakdown: 慢 (man) — sluggish, prolonged; 性 (sei) — nature, character
• Pronunciation: /ma.n.seː/

Meaning

Chronic (illness). A condition that persists over a long period of time.

A no-adjective (慢性の) used primarily in medical contexts. The opposite of 急性 (acute). Common collocations include 慢性的な (chronically), 慢性疾患 (chronic disease), and 慢性的な人手不足 (chronic labor shortage). Also used figuratively for persistent non-medical problems.

Examples

1. 祖父は慢性の腰痛に悩まされている。 My grandfather suffers from chronic back pain.
2. この地域は慢性的な水不足が問題だ。 Chronic water shortage is a problem in this area.
3. 慢性疾患は長い治療が必要になることが多い。 Chronic diseases often require long-term treatment.

Usage Guide

Context: health, medical consultations, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 慢 (man, sluggish/prolonged) and 性 (sei, nature/character). Literally 'of a prolonged nature,' describing conditions that develop slowly and persist.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal