Sick and Living in Japan? Here's What to Say…
If you live in Japan and start to feel sick, you may be wondering how to politely and accurately express how you feel to your doctor. This page is to the rescue!
This is a work in progress. Please feel free to post in the comments section requests for other medical phrases and terms.
For the English translations, we are using "I" since these will probably come from the patient's point of view, but with a pronoun, it could refer to someone else.
FEVER
熱があります。
netsu ga arimasu.
I have a fever.
微熱があります。
binetsu ga arimasu.
I have a low-grade fever. [a "binetsu" is around 37 c (about 99 f)]
２日前から熱があります。
futsuka mae kara netsu ga arimasu.
I've had a fever for two days.
熱が下がりません。
netsu ga sagarimasen.
My fever isn't coming down.
HOW YOU FEEL
気分が悪いです。
kibun ga warui desu.
I feel bad.
体がだるいです。
karada ga darui desu.
My body is sluggish; I feel listless.
倦怠感があります。
kentaikan ga arimasu.
I am fatigued. I feel washed-out.
疲れたような感じがします。
tsukareta you na kanji ga shimasu.
I feel (constantly) tired.
体が重いです。
karada ga omoi desu.
My whole body feels heavy.
胸がむかむかします。
mune ga mukamuka shimasu.
I feel nauseated / my chest feels queasy.
昨日、食べたものを吐いてしまいました。
kinou, tabetamono o haite shimaimashita.
Yesterday, I threw up what I had eaten.
DIZZINESS
立ち上がると、ふらふらします。
tachi agaru to, furafura shimasu.
When I stand, I feel dizzy.
めまいがします。
memai ga shimasu.
I feel dizzy; vertigo
食欲がありません。
shokuyoku ga arimasen.
I don't have an appetite.
DIARRHEA & CONSTIPATION
下痢の症状があります。
geri no shoujou ga arimasu.
I show signs of diarrhea.
ときどき下痢します。
tokidoki geri shimasu.
I sometimes have diarrhea.
便がゆるいです。
ben ga yurui desu.
My stool is loose/runny.
お通じはありますか？
otsuuji wa arimasu ka?
Have you had a bowel movement?
[may be asked by nurses or doctors; お通じ means "bowel movement."]
いいえ、ありません。便秘です。
iie, arimasen. benpi desu.
No, I am constipated.
はい、あります。でも、とてもゆるいです。
hai, arimasu. demo, totemo yurui desu.
Yes, but it is very loose (runny).
PAIN
お腹がいたいです。
onaka ga itai desu.
My stomach hurts.
頭が痛いです。
atama ga itai desu.
My head hurts; I have a headache.
足が痛いです。
ashi ga itai desu.
My foot hurts; my leg hurts. [足 can mean leg or foot]
胸が痛いです。
mune ga itai desu.
My chest hurts.
背中が痛いです。
senaka ga itai desu.
My back hurts. I have back pain.
SWELLING
目がはれています。
me ga harete imasu.
My eyes are swollen.
足がはれています。
ashi ga harete imasu.
My legs are swollen.
首がはれています。
kubi ga harete imasu.
My neck is swollen.
Did you enjoy this reader? Was it helpful? Get instant access to Makoto by becoming a member today.
Don't forget to checkout out our inexpensive digital bundles for learning Japanese including the Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha Beginner's Bundle of digital books and resources. Fast track your Japanese today!
