Kaifuku

Kaifuku (回復) is a Japanese noun and verb form meaning recovery, restoration, or recuperation. It is formed from two kanji, 回 meaning “to return” and 復 meaning “to restore,” and is read kaifuku in standard Japanese. The term appears across a range of contexts, from personal health to larger-scale processes.

In everyday use, kaifuku denotes recovery from illness or injury, and the period of convalescence. It also covers broader recoveries such as economic rebound, disaster recovery, or a return to normal conditions after a disruption. Examples include 健康の回復 (recovery of health), 景気回復 (economic recovery), and 回復期 (recovery period). The word can also describe the restoration of a system or state, such as data or infrastructure.

In popular culture and technology, kaifuku is used to translate concepts like healing in video games or fictional narratives, where characters regain health points or abilities. In computing and data management, phrases like データ回復 (data recovery) or 回復作業 (recovery work) use the same character combination.

Related terms provide nuance: 復旧 (fukkyū) specifically refers to restoration of a damaged system or infrastructure to its previous state; 復興 (fukkō) implies revival or reconstruction, often for economies or cities after disasters. 回復力 (kaifukuryoku) denotes resilience or the capacity to recover quickly from setbacks.

Usage notes: kaifuku is a common, neutral term applicable to health, economy, technology, and general restoration contexts, and is distinct from terms like リカバリ (recovery in loanword form) used in more specialized or technical registers.