Translation guide
The English word 'ague' refers to a fever with chills, often associated with malaria. In modern Japanese, there is no single common word that directly translates 'ague' in everyday use. Instead, learners should describe the symptoms or use medical terms depending on context.
Describe the experience of having a fever accompanied by shivering or chills, as in a malarial fever or similar illness.
This phrase means 'to have chills' or 'to feel a cold shiver', often used when someone feels cold due to fever. It is the most natural way to express the sensation of ague in everyday Japanese.
昨夜から悪寒がして、熱があるみたいです。
I've had chills since last night and I think I have a fever.
Similar to 悪寒がする, this means 'to feel chilly' or 'to have the shivers'. It can be used for the cold sensation of a fever, though it may also refer to feeling cold from low temperature.
急に寒気がして、震えが止まらない。
I suddenly felt chills and can't stop shivering.
This phrase explicitly mentions both fever and chills, which is a common way to describe the symptoms of ague-like illnesses.
熱と悪寒が交互に来る。
Fever and chills come alternately.
Refer to the disease malaria, historically called ague.
The standard Japanese word for malaria. Use this when referring to the disease itself.
彼はアフリカでマラリアにかかった。
He caught malaria in Africa.
An archaic Japanese word for malaria or intermittent fever. It is rarely used in modern conversation and appears mainly in historical or literary contexts.
Describe a sudden attack of shivering, often associated with fever.
Means 'shivering' or 'trembling'. It can be used to describe the physical shaking during a fever.
高熱で震えが止まらなかった。
I couldn't stop shivering from the high fever.
Means 'to shudder' or 'to shiver'. It can describe a sudden involuntary shiver, such as from cold or fever.
寒くて思わず身震いした。
I shivered involuntarily from the cold.
There is no common single Japanese word that directly corresponds to 'ague' in modern usage. Using archaic terms like 瘧 (おこり) may not be understood. Instead, describe the symptoms (fever, chills, shivering) or use マラリア for the disease.
In the past, many people suffered from ague and died.