Learning Japanese: Saying You Feel Sick – JLPT N5 Focus

Okay, you’ve started learning Japanese! That’s fantastic. This article focuses on a really practical starting point: knowing how to tell someone you feel unwell – something you’ll definitely need. We’ll use vocabulary and phrases suitable for the JLPT N5 level.

Understanding the Basics

Japanese communication can be very different from English. Instead of simply saying “I am sick,” they’ll often describe how you feel. Politeness is key – always include polite language like “Sumimasen” (Excuse me) and use honorific forms when appropriate. Let’s start with some essential phrases:

• Sumimasen, ok? (Excuse me, okay?) – This is a super common starter phrase for getting someone’s attention or starting a polite conversation.
• Watashi wa… ga arimasu. (I am… unwell.) – “Watashi” means “I,” “wa” is a topic marker, and “ga arimasu” means “is/am unwell.” Fill in the blank with how you’re feeling!

Common Ways to Express Feeling Sick

Here’s a breakdown of common phrases, broken down by how strong your symptoms are:

Mild Symptoms (少し):

• Chotto yami desu. (I’m a little sleepy.) – Often mistaken for “I’m sick,” this could be a mild headache or feeling tired.
• Chotto i deshita. (I was a little bit uncomfortable.) – A gentle way to say you weren’t feeling 100%.
• Mata nani ga haitteimasu ka? (What are you feeling?) – Asking someone else how they feel is common.

Moderate Symptoms (ちょっと):

• Chotto tsumetai desu. (I’m a little hot.) – This indicates fever, but don’t jump to conclusions!
• Chotto mashioku desu. (I’m a little nauseous.) – Feeling sick to your stomach.
• Omoshiroku nakimashita. (I feel a bit unwell/sick.) – A common and useful phrase for feeling generally unwell.

Stronger Symptoms (とても):

• Totemo zannen desu. (I’m very sick.) – Use this when you genuinely feel terrible.
• Tokuni mashioku ga arimasu. (I’m particularly nauseous.) – Emphasizing the nausea.
• Ga, hontouwa… (But actually…) – This is followed by how you really feel.

Example Dialogues

Here are a couple of short dialogues to put these phrases into practice:

Dialogue 1: At the Office

A: Sumimasen, ok?  Kono hoshii desu ka? (Excuse me, do you mind?)
B: Nan desu ka? (What is it?)
A: Omoshiroku nakimashita. Chotto kowai desu. (I feel a bit unwell. I'm a little worried.)
B:  Arigatou gozaimasu.  Omedetou desu ne. (Thank you very much.  That’s too bad.)

Dialogue 2: To a Friend

A: Sumimasen, Watashi wa totemo mashioku ga arimasu. (Excuse me, I'm very nauseous.)
B: Omedetou! Nani ga tabemashita ka? (That’s too bad! What did you eat?)

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Don’t worry about making mistakes – everyone does when learning a new language! Here are some common errors beginners make:

• Mistake: Saying “Watashi wa sick desu.” (I am sick.) Correction: “Watashi wa… ga arimasu.”
• Mistake: Over-exaggerating your symptoms. It’s polite to be slightly understated, especially initially.

Resources for Further Learning

Here are some resources you can use to continue learning:

• Tae Kim’s Guide to Japanese: <” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Read More
• Duolingo – Learn Japanese: (Various) – Good for basic vocabulary and phrases.

Good luck with your Japanese studies!