How to Say "Headache" in Japanese

頭痛

zutsū[d͡zɨt͡sɨː]

The Japanese word for headache is 頭痛 (zutsū).

頭痛 (zutsū) refers to a pain or ache in the head. You can describe the type of pain using the word nibui to mean a dull headache.

Meaning: pain or ache in the head (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji for 'head' (頭) and 'pain' (痛).

頭痛 (zutsū) is a formal medical term, whereas the phrase 頭が痛い (atama ga itai) is the standard way to describe the sensation in daily life.

While 頭痛 is the noun for 'headache', in casual conversation, it is more common to use the phrase 頭が痛い (atama ga itai) to say 'my head hurts'.

zutsū

When describing a headache that is 'throbbing' or 'pulsating', Japanese often uses the onomatopoeia ズキズキ (zuki zuki). This provides a much more sensory description than just saying the pain is 'strong'.
In Japanese, the word 痛い (itai) can be used to express social or mental discomfort, not just physical pain. If someone says 頭が痛い (atama ga itai) in a metaphorical sense, they might mean a specific situation or person is causing them a massive headache or stress.
The kanji for 'head' in 頭痛 (zutsū) is also the first character in the word for 'leader' or 'boss', which is 頭領 (tōryō).

頭痛がする。
I have a headache.
This sentence shows how to express that you have a headache using 頭痛.
Tatoeba #5114 by bunbuku, translation #1712 by CK
まだ頭痛い？
Do you still have a headache?
This sentence is a way to ask if someone still has a headache using 頭痛.
Tatoeba #2727255 by tommy_san, translation #2725845 by WestofEden
頭痛が酷い。
I have a bad headache.
This sentence describes having a severe headache using 頭痛.
Tatoeba #11257850 by sh5555, translation #34727 by CK
A, atama itai… Gohan no jikan ni kibishiku shite gomen ne. (あ、頭痛い… ご飯の時間に厳しくしてごめんね。)
Oh, my head hurts… Sorry for being strict about mealtime.
54 more sentences on Tatoeba

Kenta and Yui are at the office.

結衣 Yui

健太さん、顔色が悪いですよ。
Kenta-san, kaoiro ga warui desu yo.
Kenta, you look pale.
健太 Kenta

実は、ひどい頭痛がします。
Jitsu wa, hidoi zutsū ga shimasu.
Actually, I have a terrible headache.
結衣 Yui

薬は飲みましたか？
Kusuri wa nomimashita ka?
Did you take any medicine?
健太 Kenta

いいえ、これから飲みます。
Iie, kore kara nomimasu.
No, I'm going to take some now.

Sources

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