コロナにかかった
korona ni kakatta
In Japanese, "i got covid" is expressed as コロナにかかった (korona ni kakatta).
This phrase is used to inform others that you have been infected with the COVID-19 virus. In casual conversation, speakers often shorten the full term for coronavirus, korona uirusu, to just コロナ.
What does it mean word for word?
The part にかかった (ni kakatta) literally means "caught" or "contracted" when used in the context of a disease or virus.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite, you can change the verb ending from kakatta to kakarimashita, resulting in コロナにかかりました. If you want to emphasize that you are currently in the state of being infected, you can use the continuous form コロナにかかっている (I have [currently] COVID).
How do you pronounce it?
korona ni kakatta
Did you know?
- The verb kakararu used in コロナにかかった is the same word used to describe a 'cost' or 'price' for a service. In Japanese, catching a disease and spending money are expressed with the same root verb.
- When discussing isolation, instead of saying 'I am quarantined', Japanese people often use the phrase 外出自粛 (gaishutsu jishuku), which means 'refraining from going out'.
- When talking about recovering from the virus, Japanese speakers use the word 直る or 治る, which can also mean 'to be repaired'. This treats the body like a broken machine being fixed.
Examples in context
- 昨日、コロナにかかった。kinou, korona ni kakatta.I got covid yesterday.
- 実は、コロナにかかったんだ。jitsu wa, korona ni kakatta n da.Actually, I got covid.
- 検査したら、コロナにかかったって言われた。kensa shitara, korona ni kakatta tte iwareta.When I took the test, I was told I got covid.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone about why one of them is absent.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、どうしたの？元気？Misaki, doushita no? Genki?Misaki, what's wrong? Are you okay?
- 美咲 Misakiううん、実はコロナにかかったんだ。Uun, jitsu wa korona ni kakatta n da.No, actually, I got covid.
- 大翔 Hirotoえっ、大丈夫？体調はどう？E', daijoubu? Taichou wa dou?What? Are you okay? How are you feeling?
- 美咲 Misaki熱はあるけど、少しずつ良くなってるよ。Netsu wa aru kedo, sukoshizutsu yoku natteru yo.I have a fever, but I am getting better little by little.
