気分が悪いです
kibun ga warui desu
To say "I feel sick" in Japanese, you use 気分が悪いです (kibun ga warui desu).
気分が悪いです is a phrase used to express that you feel nauseous or generally unwell. If you want to be more specific about your symptoms, you can use 吐き気がする to say "I feel nauseous" or 熱がある to say "I have a fever." To express that your physical condition is bad in a formal way, you can use 体調が悪いです or use 具合が悪いです to formally say "I feel unwell."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 気分が悪いです literally means "the feeling is bad."
Which one should you use?
While 気分が悪いです focuses on a physical sensation of illness, the similar-sounding 気持ちが悪いです can also mean that something feels "gross" or "disgusting" to the senses.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form is 気分が悪いです. You can make the phrase informal by dropping the "desu" at the end to say 気分が悪い. Other formal alternatives include 体調が悪いです (my physical condition is bad) and 具合が悪いです (I feel unwell).
How do you pronounce it?
kibun ga warui desu
Did you know?
- The phrase 気分が悪いです can be used to describe motion sickness. To be more precise, Japanese speakers use the specific term 乗り物酔い meaning 'vehicle drunkenness'.
- When someone says 気分が悪いです in a public space, bystanders often offer a seirogan or similar herbal remedy. This traditional medicine is a culturally iconic response to nausea in Japan.
- In medical settings, a patient might use the word だるい to describe the 'sick' feeling of lethargy. This specific type of unwellness has no direct single-word equivalent in English.
Examples in context
- 先生、すみませんが、体調が悪いです。Excuse me, teacher, but I feel sick.
- お医者さん、具合が悪いです。Doctor, I feel unwell.
- 今、気分が悪いんだよ。Right now, I feel nauseous.
- 気分が悪いです。Kibun ga warui desu.I feel sick.
- 少し気分が悪いです。Sukoshi kibun ga warui desu.I feel a little unwell.
Example conversation
At a cafe, Hiroto tells Misaki he is not feeling well.
- 大翔 Hirotoすみません、少し気分が悪いです。Sumimasen, sukoshi kibun ga warui desu.Excuse me, I feel a little sick.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫ですか？顔色が悪いですよ。Daijoubu desu ka? Kaoiro ga warui desu yo.Are you okay? You look pale.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、少し休みたいです。Hai, sukoshi yasumitai desu.Yes, I want to rest a little.
- 美咲 Misaki無理しないで、帰りましょう。Muri shinai de, kaerimashou.Don't push yourself, let's go home.
