Translation guide
Expresses physical discomfort, nausea, or general unwellness. Japanese has distinct expressions for stomach-related nausea, general malaise, and specific symptoms.
Feeling like you might vomit, queasy stomach.
Most common and direct way to say 'I feel nauseous' or 'I feel like throwing up'. Literally 'nausea does'.
I feel sick, so I'm going to lie down for a bit.
Very common casual expression for feeling sick, especially nausea. Can also mean 'gross' or 'creepy' depending on context.
Literally 'about to vomit'. More direct and urgent than 吐き気がする.
I'm so carsick I feel like I'm going to throw up.
Can mean 'feel sick' (stomach) or 'be disgusted/irritated'. For physical nausea, it's casual and often implies a sour stomach.
Often used for emotional disgust rather than physical sickness. Context clarifies.
Feeling under the weather, not well overall, without specific nausea.
Polite and general way to say 'I don't feel well'. Suitable for work or formal situations.
Feeling faint, dizzy, or like you might pass out.
Standard expression for dizziness or vertigo.
Feeling sick due to headache or bodily pain.
気持ち悪い strongly implies nausea or disgust, while 具合が悪い is a broader 'not feeling well'. Use 具合が悪い at work; 気持ち悪い is casual and can be too direct.
病気 (びょうき) means 'illness/disease'. Saying '私は病気です' sounds like 'I have a disease'. Use the phrases above to describe temporary sickness.
I feel sick after eating that.
I ate too much and feel sick.
胃がむかつく。
My stomach feels sick.
I don't feel well today, so I'll take the day off.
Very common, slightly more casual than 体調が悪い. Means 'not in good condition' physically.
I'm feeling a bit sick.
Feeling sluggish, heavy, or lethargic. Often part of feeling sick, like when you have a cold.
I feel feverish and sluggish.
Formal/literary expression for 'not feeling well'. Often used in written or polite speech.
I will be absent today as I am feeling unwell.
I felt dizzy when I stood up.
Onomatopoeic expression for feeling lightheaded or dizzy, often from anemia or fatigue.
I feel dizzy from the heat.
Directly 'head hurts'. Often used when feeling sick includes headache.
My head hurts and I feel sick.
She said she felt sick and went home.