Learning Japanese: JLPT N4 – Describing Symptoms and Asking for Advice

The JLPT N4 exam focuses heavily on practical conversation. One key area is being able to describe symptoms of illness and ask for advice in simple Japanese. This article will equip you with the vocabulary and phrases needed to handle common scenarios like a minor ailment or feeling unwell.

Understanding Common Phrases

Let’s start with some essential phrases:

• I’m not feeling well. (元気じゃないです。 – Genki ja nai desu.)
• I think I have a cold. (風邪がちょっとかもしれません。- Kazegai ga chotto ka mo kimashimasu.) – Note: “Kazegai” means cold, and “ka mo kimashimasu” expresses possibility.
• What’s wrong with you? (どうしたの？ – Doushita no?)
• How are you feeling? (どんな感じですか？ – Donna kanshika desu ka?)
• I have a headache. (頭が痛いです。- Atama ga itai desu.)
• I feel tired. (疲れました。- Tsukaremashita.)

Describing Symptoms

Here’s how you can describe your symptoms using simple Japanese:

• Temperature: 暑いです (atsui desu – It’s hot) / 冷たいです (tadaki ai desu – It’s cold). You might say “体が熱い” (karada ga atsui – My body is hot)
• Pain: 痛いです (itai desu – It hurts). Specify the location if you can: 腕が痛いです (Ue ga itai desu – My arm hurts).
• Other Symptoms: 吐き気がします (tikigaki ga shimasu – I feel nauseous) / 咳が出ます (seki ga demasu – I have a cough) / 鼻がムズムズします (hana ga muzmuzushimasu – My nose itches).

Dialogues: Practicing the Conversation

Here are some example dialogues you can practice:

Dialogue 1: Talking to a Friend

You: こんにちは、[Friend’s Name]さん。元気ですか？ (Konnichiwa, [Friend's name]-san. Genki desu ka?)
Friend: 元気です。あなたは？ (Genki desu. Anata wa?)
You: ちょっと頭が痛いです。 (Chotto atama ga itai desu.) – “I have a little headache.”
Friend: それは大変だね！何か飲んでみたら？ (Sore wa taihen da ne! Nani ka nomete mitara?) – "That's bad! Try drinking something."

Dialogue 2: Asking for Advice from a Store Clerk

You: すみません。風邪がちょっと出たかもしれません。(Sumimasen. Kazegai ga chotto deta kamo shiremasu.) – “Excuse me, I think I have caught a cold.”
Clerk: どんな症状がありますか？ (Donna shoujou ga arimasu ka?) – "What symptoms do you have?"
You: 鼻水と咳が出ます。(Nasui to seki ga demasu.) - “I have runny nose and cough.”
Clerk: そうですか。何か薬を勧めますが、市販の風邪薬を試してみてください。(Sou desu ka. Nani ka kusuri o susume masu ga, ichibanban no kazegayaku o tameshite mite kudasai.) – “That's bad. I’ll recommend some medicine, please try an over-the-counter cold remedy.”

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Here are a few common mistakes learners make and how to correct them:

• Overusing complex grammar: Stick to simple sentence structures. Instead of “私は風邪が引いていると思います。” (Watashi wa kazegai ga wipesite iru to omoimasu – I think I have caught a cold), say “風邪がちょっとかもしれません。”
• Incorrect particle usage: Pay close attention to particles like “wa” and “ga.” In “腕が痛いです,” “atama” (head) is marked with “ga” because it’s the subject of the sentence.

Key Vocabulary Recap

Here’s a reminder of some key vocabulary:

• 風邪 (kazegai) – Cold
• 頭痛 (atamatugui) – Headache
• 鼻水 (nasui) – Runny nose
• 咳 (seki) – Cough
• 元気 (genki) – Healthy, Well

Practice these phrases and dialogues to build your confidence in basic Japanese conversations about illness!