Translation and Meaning of: カルテ - karute

Explanation and Etymology - (カルテ) karute

カルテ (karute) is a Japanese term derived from the German word *Karte*, which means "card" or "slip." In a medical context, カルテ refers to a patient chart or medical record used to document a patient's history, including diagnoses, treatments, and observations made by healthcare professionals. The use of this word reflects the strong influence that Western medicine, especially German medicine, had on Japan during the modernization period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historically, Japan imported a series of medical terms from Germany, as Japanese doctors studied under the influence of German specialists. At that time, Western medicine was considered advanced, and many technical vocabularies, including カルテ, were integrated into Japanese. This word is a clear example of how the Japanese language adopts foreign terms and adapts them to its phonetic and orthographic system while preserving the original meaning.

Currently, カルテ is widely used in hospitals and clinics throughout Japan. These records are essential for monitoring treatments and ensure effective communication among different health professionals caring for the same patient. In addition to the term カルテ, the concept of medical records has also evolved to include digital versions, but the word continues to be used to describe both physical files and electronic records.