Translation guide
Ways to express that you feel unwell, nauseous, or generally sick in Japanese, organized by the specific sensation or situation.
Expressing that you feel ill or not in good health, without specifying the exact symptom.
The most common and versatile way to say you feel sick or unwell. Can refer to nausea, dizziness, or general malaise.
ちょっと気分が悪いです。
I feel a bit sick.
I started feeling sick.
Literally 'physical condition is bad'. Used for feeling under the weather, not necessarily nauseous. More about general health.
今日は体調が悪いので休みます。
I'm not feeling well today, so I'll take the day off.
Similar to 体調が悪い, but can also refer to a specific body part or machine not working well. For people, it means feeling unwell.
お腹の具合が悪い。
My stomach feels off.
Specifically expressing that you feel nauseous or like you might throw up.
The standard way to say 'I feel nauseous' or 'I feel like throwing up'.
吐き気がして、何も食べられない。
I feel nauseous and can't eat anything.
車に酔って吐き気がする。
I got carsick and feel nauseous.
An onomatopoeic expression for a queasy, unsettled stomach. Often used for mild nausea or heartburn.
食べ過ぎて胸がむかむかする。
I ate too much and feel queasy.
Casual way to say 'I feel like I'm going to throw up'. Literally 'seems like I'll vomit'.
うっ、吐きそう。
Ugh, I'm gonna puke.
Expressing that you feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded.
The standard phrase for feeling dizzy or having vertigo.
立ち上がったらめまいがした。
I felt dizzy when I stood up.
Onomatopoeic word for feeling lightheaded or dizzy, often from standing up too fast or anemia.
頭がくらくらする。
I feel lightheaded.
Feeling sick due to motion, such as in a car, bus, boat, or plane.
General term for motion sickness. Can be used as a verb phrase.
私は乗り物酔いしやすい。
I get motion sickness easily.
Specifically car sickness.
車酔いがひどい。
I get really carsick.
Seasickness.
船酔いで気分が悪い。
I feel sick from seasickness.
Expressing discomfort from consuming too much food or alcohol.
Literally 'ate too much and feel sick'. Very common and natural.
食べ過ぎて気持ち悪い。
I ate too much and feel sick.
Feeling sick from a hangover.
二日酔いで気分が悪い。
I feel sick from a hangover.
Both can mean 'feeling sick', but 気持ち悪い is more visceral and often refers to a creepy or gross feeling, while 気分が悪い is more about physical illness. 気持ち悪い can also mean 'disgusting' or 'creepy' when describing something external.
この虫、気持ち悪い。
This bug is gross.
病気 (びょうき) means 'disease' or 'illness' as a medical condition. Saying 私は病気です sounds like 'I have a disease'. Use 気分が悪い or other phrases for temporary sickness.