Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Japanese term or phrase:
病識なく
English translation:
no awareness of the illness
Added to glossary by
David Gibney
Sep 4, 2016 20:26
7 yrs ago
9 viewers *
Japanese term
病識なく
Japanese to English
Medical
Poetry & Literature
随筆
I am having trouble judging whether to use the past perfect tense or the simple past tense in the second sentence of the following passage:
Original Japanese:
「弟は精神病を発病して20年｡病識なく服薬ノーでひきこもり｡」
My English translation:
“My younger brother has been mentally ill for 20 years. He had had neither insight into his illness nor need for medication. He was staying at home and isolating himself from the rest of society.”
The writer is talking about the past, and the patient’s condition has now improved.
In this case, should I say “He had had neither insight into …” or “He had neither insight into …”?
Your detailed explanation is much appreciated.
Original Japanese:
「弟は精神病を発病して20年｡病識なく服薬ノーでひきこもり｡」
My English translation:
“My younger brother has been mentally ill for 20 years. He had had neither insight into his illness nor need for medication. He was staying at home and isolating himself from the rest of society.”
The writer is talking about the past, and the patient’s condition has now improved.
In this case, should I say “He had had neither insight into …” or “He had neither insight into …”?
Your detailed explanation is much appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | no awareness of the illness |
David Gibney
|
| 4 | Had no awareness |
Patrick Hideo Kirby
|
| 4 | lack of insight |
cinefil
|
Change log
Sep 6, 2016 18:59: David Gibney Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
David Gibney
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
Ireland
Professional, punctual translations
Native in: English 
Works in: Japanese to English, English to Japanese
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
no awareness of the illness
I would go with "had".
If the sentence was a clause followed by something changing the situation "had had" would be appropriate.
E.g. He had had symptoms for 5 years until he started medication.
If the sentence was a clause followed by something changing the situation "had had" would be appropriate.
E.g. He had had symptoms for 5 years until he started medication.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your answer. I think I’ve got your point. So, in this case can I say, “He had neither awareness of the illness nor of the need for medication.” for 「病識なく服薬ノー」? |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Your answers were to the point and very easy to follow. I also appreciate your quick response. Many thanks for your help!!"
1 day 20 hrs
Patrick Hideo Kirby
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Japanese-English Technical Translator
Native in: English
Works in: Japanese to English, English, Japanese
Had no awareness
If his condition has now improved then his lack of awareness is a situation in the past - hence "had". Similarly, since the situation is in the past it may be more natural to say "He 'was' ill for 20 years (and is no longer ill)". If you say "has been ill", that implies "has been and still is".
Suggestion: "My younger brother was mentally ill for 20 years. He had no awareness of his illness or any need for medication."
Suggestion: "My younger brother was mentally ill for 20 years. He had no awareness of his illness or any need for medication."
Note from asker:
| Your suggestion sounds very natural, but the Japanese “発病して20年” implies that he developed the illness 20 years ago and still IS ill today, although later in the essay it is mentioned that his condition is now somewhat stable. Nice try! |
2 days 14 hrs
Reference comments
22 hrs
Reference:
FYI
insight
(in´si4t). [音声]
洞察，病識（自分自身や他人の行動の背後にある動機や理由について自分で理解していること）．
ステッドマン医学大辞典 改訂第５版
病識
consciousness of disease(n)【精神】；insight(n)【精神】
《参考》 洞察；病覚；見透し
和英医学用語大辞典
病識欠如
anosodiaphoria(n)【精神】〔SNOMED-F86380〕
《参考》 疾病無関心
和英医学用語大辞典
(in´si4t). [音声]
洞察，病識（自分自身や他人の行動の背後にある動機や理由について自分で理解していること）．
ステッドマン医学大辞典 改訂第５版
病識
consciousness of disease(n)【精神】；insight(n)【精神】
《参考》 洞察；病覚；見透し
和英医学用語大辞典
病識欠如
anosodiaphoria(n)【精神】〔SNOMED-F86380〕
《参考》 疾病無関心
和英医学用語大辞典
Note from asker:
| 医学辞典から、いろいろな「病識」の英訳をお調べ下さり、ありがとうございます。この随筆のような精神の病の場合、英語では日常的にどのような語を使うのか、いまいち悩むところです。 |
Discussion
ところで、「had had」について質問させて頂きたいのですが、この文章の最後の方で、当事者の病気は緩解したと書かれていますが、その場合、「had」のみを用いるのと、「had had」と過去完了を用いるのでは、どちらがよりナチュラルでしょうか？ もしお解りでしたらアドバイスお願いいたします。
Both “he had neither awareness of the illness nor of the need for medication,” and “he had no awareness of the illness or of the need for medication,” sound fine to me but I prefer the second as it's more concise and less wordy.
“He had neither awareness of the illness nor of the need for medication.”
“He had had neither awareness of the illness nor of the need for medication until he had a break-down and realised how sick he was.”