病気です
byōki desu
To say someone is sick in Japanese, use 病気です (byōki desu).
病気です means is sick or is ill. Put the person before it to say who is sick.
What does it mean word for word?
病気 means illness, and です is the polite verb ending meaning is.
How does it change in a sentence?
Japanese often drops the subject when it is clear from context, so 病気です alone can mean he is sick or she is sick.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read byōki desu. The long o in byōki is held a little longer, and the u in desu is barely heard.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the character 気 in 病気 refers to 'spirit' or 'energy', meaning an illness is literally viewed as a 'sick spirit'.
- When someone is sick, Japanese people may use the phrase お大事に to wish them well, which literally means 'take care of your precious [health]'.
- To describe a mild sickness, Japanese speakers often use 風邪 which specifically refers to 'wind' entering the body to cause a cold.
Examples in context
- 父は病気です。Chichi wa byouki desu.My father is sick.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing why a classmate is absent.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔君はどこにいますか。Daito-kun wa doko ni imasu ka.Where is Daito?
- 大翔 Hiroto彼は今日、病気です。Kare wa kyō, byōki desu.He is sick today.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは大変ですね。Sore wa taihen desu ne.That's too bad.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、ゆっくり休ませます。Hai, yukkuri yasumasemasu.Yes, I'll let him rest well.
