Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing dizziness depends on the sensation: spinning (vertigo), lightheadedness, or unsteadiness. The most common and general term is めまい, but specific words exist for different types.
めまいがします。
I feel dizzy.
立ち上がるとめまいがします。
I get dizzy when I stand up.
A sensation of spinning or loss of balance, often used in medical or everyday contexts.
The most common and general term for dizziness, covering both spinning sensations and lightheadedness. Used in everyday conversation and medical settings.
急に立ち上がると、めまいがします。
I feel dizzy when I stand up suddenly.
めまいがひどくて、立っていられません。
I'm so dizzy I can't stand.
Kanji form of めまい, meaning 'dizziness' or 'vertigo'. More common in written or formal contexts.
目眩の症状が続いています。
The dizziness symptoms are persisting.
A feeling that the surroundings are spinning, often associated with inner ear problems.
Specifically refers to rotational vertigo, where the room seems to spin. Used in medical contexts.
回転性めまいが起きると、吐き気もします。
When I get rotational vertigo, I also feel nauseous.
A formal, literary term for vertigo. Rarely used in everyday speech; mostly found in medical literature.
眩暈は内耳の異常によって引き起こされることがあります。
Vertigo can be caused by abnormalities in the inner ear.
A sensation of nearly fainting, often due to low blood pressure or standing up too quickly.
Dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing up, often from orthostatic hypotension. Very common in daily conversation.
立ちくらみがして、目の前が暗くなった。
I felt dizzy when I stood up and my vision went dark.
Describes dizziness that feels like anemia, often used when feeling faint or weak.
貧血のようなめまいがして、座り込んでしまった。
I felt dizzy like I was anemic and had to sit down.
A feeling of being off-balance or walking on a cloud, not necessarily spinning.
A sensation of unsteadiness or staggering, often used when feeling dizzy while walking.
熱でふらつきがあって、まっすぐ歩けません。
I feel unsteady from the fever and can't walk straight.
A floating sensation, as if walking on air. Often used to describe a type of dizziness.
めまいと浮遊感が続いています。
I have persistent dizziness and a floating sensation.
めまい is the general term for dizziness. 立ちくらみ specifically refers to dizziness upon standing. ふらつき describes unsteadiness or staggering, often while walking. Use めまい if unsure.
めまいがするので、耳鼻科に行きました。
I went to an ENT because I was dizzy.
立ちくらみがひどいので、ゆっくり立ち上がるようにしています。
I get bad dizzy spells when standing, so I try to stand up slowly.
ふらつきがあるので、杖を使っています。
I use a cane because I feel unsteady.
The English word 'dizziness' is not commonly used as a loanword in Japanese. Always use native Japanese terms like めまい.
彼女はめまいに悩まされています。
She suffers from dizziness.
めまいは脱水症状の一つです。
Dizziness can be a symptom of dehydration.