気分が悪い
kibun ga warui
The English phrase "not feeling well" is translated into Japanese as 気分が悪い (kibun ga warui).
気分が悪い is commonly used to express nausea or a general sense of physical malaise. It can also be used to describe feeling mentally or emotionally unsettled.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 気分 refers to one's physical or mental state, mood or feeling.
Which one should you use?
While 気分が悪い can mean feeling nauseous or physically ill, it can also be used to describe feeling mentally or emotionally unsettled.
How do you pronounce it?
kibun ga warui
Did you know?
- To express a specific feeling of nausea or motion sickness, Japanese speakers often use the word 酔う (you), which literally means 'to get drunk'. This is used for cars, boats and even elevators.
- While 気分が悪い can mean you feel sick, it is also used to describe someone's bad behavior or a 'disgusting' situation. In this context, it describes the feeling the other person evokes rather than your own health.
- While 'not feeling well' in English is often a polite way to avoid detail, saying 気分が悪い can sometimes sound quite blunt or direct in Japanese. To sound more polite or subtle when speaking to a superior, one might use 体調が優れない instead.
Examples in context
- 気分が悪いの？Are you not feeling well?This is useful for asking if someone is not feeling well using 気分が悪い.Tatoeba #8612417 by small_snow, translation #3658435 by AlanF_US
- まだ気分が悪いの？Are you still not feeling well?Tatoeba #10570921 by small_snow, translation #6350846 by CK
- 気分が悪い。I'm not feeling well.This is useful for stating that you are not feeling well using 気分が悪い.Tatoeba #1116820 by mookeee, translation #20288 by CK
Example conversation
At a cafe, Yui looks pale and Hiroto notices.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さん、顔色が悪いですよ。Yui-san, kaoiro ga warui desu yo.Yui, you look pale.
- 結衣 Yui少し気分が悪いです。Sukoshi kibun ga warui desu.I am not feeling well.
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫ですか？無理しないでください。Daijoubu desu ka? Muri shinaide kudasai.Are you okay? Please don't push yourself.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。少し休みます。Arigatou gozaimasu. Sukoshi yasumimasu.Thank you. I will rest a little.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
