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.
I feel nauseous.
Polite form. In casual speech, say 吐き気がする。
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.
I feel nauseous.
If you feel nauseous, please sit down.
Literally 'seems like I'll throw up'. Used when nausea is strong and vomiting feels imminent. Casual.
I feel like I'm going to throw up.
Medical/technical term for nausea. Used in clinical contexts or formal writing.
Nausea specifically caused by motion, such as in a car, boat, or plane.
Nausea during pregnancy, especially in the early stages.
The standard term for morning sickness. Not limited to mornings; can occur any time.
My morning sickness is so bad I can't eat anything.
How long does morning sickness last?
Medical term for severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum). Rarely used in daily conversation.
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.
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.
I feel kind of sick.
I ate too much and feel sick.
車酔いで吐きそう。
I'm so carsick I feel like throwing up.
Abdominal pain accompanied by nausea.
I bought motion sickness medicine.
船酔いでずっと寝ていた。
I was seasick and slept the whole time.
I was hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum.