Meaning and Usage
"末期" (まっき) primarily refers to the final stage or terminal phase of an illness, especially when death is imminent. It is often used in medical contexts to describe the last period of life or the final phase of a disease.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "末期" used with words like "病気" (illness), "患者" (patient), and "段階" (stage). It conveys a serious, often somber tone, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Collocations and Patterns
- 末期の病気: terminal illness
- 末期患者: terminal patient
- 末期の段階: terminal stage
These collocations are common in medical or caregiving conversations.
Register and Nuance
"末期" is a formal term, mostly used in written or professional contexts such as hospitals or medical reports. It is not casual and should be used carefully to avoid sounding insensitive.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "末期" with "最後" (さいご), which means "last" or "final" in a more general sense. "末期" specifically implies a terminal or end-of-life phase, so use it only when referring to the final stage of a process, especially illness or life.