Translation guide
The feeling of sickness in the stomach, often with an urge to vomit. In Japanese, the most common and direct word is 吐き気, but there are also more colloquial or specific expressions.
Expressing that you feel nauseous or sick to your stomach in a general sense.
The standard, neutral word for nausea. Can be used in both formal and informal situations.
吐き気がする。
I feel nauseous.
吐き気を感じたら、座ってください。
If you feel nauseous, please sit down.
A very common, casual way to say you feel sick or nauseous. Literally 'feeling bad'. Used in everyday conversation.
なんか気持ち悪い。
I feel kind of sick.
食べ過ぎて気持ち悪い。
I ate too much and feel sick.
Literally 'seems like I'll throw up'. Used when nausea is strong and vomiting feels imminent. Casual.
Medical/technical term for nausea. Used in clinical contexts or formal writing.
悪心を伴う腹痛。
Abdominal pain accompanied by nausea.
Nausea specifically caused by motion, such as in a car, boat, or plane.
General term for motion sickness. Can be used for cars, boats, planes, etc.
乗り物酔いしやすい。
I get motion sickness easily.
乗り物酔いの薬を買った。
I bought motion sickness medicine.
Specifically car sickness.
車酔いがひどい。
I get really bad car sickness.
Specifically seasickness.
船酔いでずっと寝ていた。
I was seasick and slept the whole time.
Nausea during pregnancy, especially in the early stages.
The standard term for morning sickness. Not limited to mornings; can occur any time.
つわりがひどくて何も食べられない。
My morning sickness is so bad I can't eat anything.
つわりはいつまで続きますか？
How long does morning sickness last?
Medical term for severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum). Rarely used in daily conversation.
妊娠悪阻で入院した。
I was hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum.
吐き気 is a specific noun meaning 'nausea', while 気持ち悪い is a broader adjective meaning 'feeling bad/unpleasant'. 気持ち悪い can also describe something gross or creepy, not just physical sickness. For clear medical contexts, 吐き気 is safer.
この映画、気持ち悪い。
This movie is gross/creepy.
吐き気 is a set word. Writing it as 吐く気 (literally 'feeling of vomiting') is incorrect. Always use 吐き気.