Translation guide
Expressing the sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness in Japanese, covering common verbs and phrases.
To say you feel dizzy or lightheaded in a general sense.
The most common and natural way to say 'I feel dizzy.' Literally 'dizziness does.'
急に立ち上がると、めまいがした。
When I stood up suddenly, I felt dizzy.
Describes a lightheaded, spinning sensation, often from standing up too fast or anemia.
立ち上がったら、くらくらした。
I stood up and felt lightheaded.
Describes feeling unsteady on your feet, as if you might stagger or fall.
熱があって、ふらふらする。
I have a fever and feel woozy.
To describe a sensation that the room is spinning around you.
Literally 'eyes spin,' used for a strong spinning dizziness, like vertigo.
目が回って立てない。
I'm so dizzy I can't stand up.
Medical term for rotational vertigo. Used in clinical contexts.
回転性のめまいがひどいです。
I have severe rotational vertigo.
To express feeling dizzy due to illness, fever, or a hangover.
Verb meaning to feel unsteady or stagger, often from sickness or exhaustion.
風邪でふらついている。
I'm feeling dizzy from a cold.
Specifically for hangover dizziness.
二日酔いで頭がくらくらして、起きられない。
I'm so dizzy from a hangover I can't get up.
To express dizziness triggered by heights or motion sickness.
Explains dizziness due to fear of heights.
高い所に立つと、めまいがする。
I feel dizzy when I stand in high places.
Dizziness from motion sickness.
バスに乗っていたら、乗り物酔いで目が回ってきた。
While on the bus, I got motion sickness and felt dizzy.
めまい is the general medical term for dizziness and can cover vertigo, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness. くらくら emphasizes a lightheaded, faint feeling, often from anemia or standing up quickly. ふらふら focuses on unsteadiness and the physical sensation of swaying or staggering.
貧血でくらくらする。
I feel lightheaded from anemia.
疲れてふらふらだ。
I'm so tired I'm staggering.
Do not translate 'feel dizzy' word-for-word as 感じる dizzy. Use the natural Japanese expressions like めまいがする or くらくらする.