病気
byōki[bʲo̞ːkʲi]
In Japanese, the word for sick is 病気 (byōki).
病気 can refer to a specific disease or illness, but it is also used generally to describe the state of being unwell.
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters for 'illness' (病) and 'period/condition' (気).
Which one should you use?
While 病気 often refers to a diagnosed illness or a state of being sick, the phrase 具合が悪い is more commonly used to describe a general feeling of being unwell or 'under the weather'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal or written contexts, the noun 病気 is often followed by the copula de aru to mean 'is sick'.
How do you pronounce it?
byōki
Did you know?
- The word 病気 is used as a slang term in Japanese internet culture to describe an obsessive or unhealthy passion for a hobby, such as being 'sick' with love for a character.
- The phrase お大事に (odaiji ni), often said to someone who is sick, literally means 'take care of your precious thing', where 'precious thing' refers to the person's health.
- When people are 'sick' in the sense of being lovesick, they use the word 恋病 (koibyou), which literally frames romantic longing as a medical disease.
Examples in context
- 病気がちだ。I get sick a lot.This sentence uses 病気 to describe a tendency to get sick often.Tatoeba #12725612 by small_snow, translation #10905871 by ddnktr
- 彼は病気です。He is sick.This sentence uses 病気 to state that someone is sick.Tatoeba #100585 by bunbuku, translation #371410 by saeb
- 病気になった。I got sick.This sentence uses 病気 to describe the act of becoming sick.Tatoeba #7870114 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #28568 by CK
- 209 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren is calling Misaki to explain why he missed a meeting.
- 蓮 Renごめん、昨日から病気で休んでいた。Gomen, kinō kara byōki de yasunde ita.Sorry, I was off since yesterday because I was sick.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫？無理しないでね。Daijōbu? Muri shinaide ne.Are you okay? Don't overdo it.
- 蓮 Renありがとう。今はもう病気じゃないよ。Arigatō. Ima wa mō byōki janai yo.Thanks. I'm not sick anymore now.
- 美咲 Misakiそれはよかった。ゆっくり休んでね。Sore wa yokatta. Yukkuri yasunde ne.That's good. Get some good rest.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 病気, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
