Translation guide
A minor illness or physical complaint, often not serious or long-lasting. In Japanese, the most natural way to express this depends on context, from general words for illness to specific terms for common complaints.
軽い病気です。
I have a minor ailment.
彼はいろいろな病気を患っている。
He suffers from various ailments.
Referring to a non-serious illness or feeling unwell in everyday conversation.
The most common word for 'illness' or 'sickness'. Can range from mild to serious, but context usually clarifies severity. Often used with 軽い (mild) to specify a minor ailment.
彼は軽い病気で学校を休んだ。
He missed school due to a minor ailment.
最近、病気がちです。
Lately, I've been prone to ailments.
Literally 'poor physical condition'. A polite, slightly formal way to say you're feeling unwell without specifying a disease. Common in workplace or school contexts.
体調不良のため、早退します。
I'm leaving early due to an ailment.
A general term for 'disorder' or 'poor condition', often used for specific body parts or systems. Can sound slightly technical.
胃の不調を感じる。
I feel a stomach ailment.
Describing everyday ailments like headaches, colds, or stomachaches.
A cold. The most frequent minor ailment. Often used with ひく (to catch).
風邪をひいたみたい。
I think I've caught a cold.
Headache. A very common specific ailment.
頭痛がする。
I have a headache.
Stomachache or abdominal pain.
Injury. While not an illness, it's a common physical complaint often grouped with minor ailments.
軽いけがをした。
I got a minor injury.
Referring to a long-standing but not life-threatening health issue.
A chronic ailment or condition one has had for a long time. Implies it's manageable but persistent.
腰痛が持病です。
Back pain is a chronic ailment of mine.
Literally 'chronic illness'. More clinical than 持病.
慢性の病気を抱えている。
I have a chronic ailment.
When you don't have a specific diagnosis but feel off.
A common phrase meaning 'not feeling well' or 'under the weather'. Polite and vague.
今日は気分がすぐれないので、休みます。
I'm not feeling well today, so I'll take the day off.
Literally 'body condition is bad'. A straightforward way to say you feel physically unwell.
体の具合が悪くて、食欲がない。
I have some kind of ailment and no appetite.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches the English 'ailment' in all contexts. Using 病気 is usually safe, but for very minor or vague complaints, phrases like 体調不良 or 気分がすぐれない are more natural. Avoid obscure medical terms unless you are in a clinical setting.
病気 is a general term for illness, while 体調不良 specifically refers to poor physical condition and is often used in formal situations like calling in sick to work. 体調不良 implies the condition is temporary and not necessarily a diagnosed disease.
腹痛で寝込んでいる。
I'm laid up with a stomachache.