Byouki Meaning in Japanese: How to Say “Sick” in Japanese

Hello, I’m Kodak.

The basic Japanese word for an illness or disease is 病気 (byōki).

However, English “I’m sick” does not always translate naturally as 私は病気です.

If you simply feel unwell and do not know what illness you have, a more useful phrase is:

What Does 病気 (Byouki) Mean in Japanese?

病気 refers to a condition in which a person’s physical or mental functions are impaired and medical attention may be needed. In everyday Japanese, it can describe both temporary illness and more serious disease, depending on the context.

父は病気です。
Chichi wa byōki desu.
My father is ill.

病気で学校を休みました。
Byōki de gakkō o yasumimashita.
I missed school because I was sick.

この病気は治療が必要です。
Kono byōki wa chiryō ga hitsuyō desu.
This illness requires treatment.

The word may also be used figuratively for a recurring bad habit.

また彼の悪い病気が出た。
Mata kare no warui byōki ga deta.
His bad habit has shown itself again.

Pronunciation: Byouki or Byōki?

The vowel in びょう is long. Hold the o-like sound for two Japanese beats.

Breaking Down the Kanji in 病気

For beginners, it is useful to remember 病気 as one complete word rather than trying to translate each kanji literally every time.

How to Say “I’m Sick” in Japanese

The natural translation depends on what you are trying to communicate.

病気です: “I Am Ill” or “I Have an Illness”

病気です identifies a person or condition as an illness.

私は病気です。
Watashi wa byōki desu.
I am ill. / I have an illness.

母は重い病気です。
Haha wa omoi byōki desu.
My mother has a serious illness.

それはどんな病気ですか？
Sore wa donna byōki desu ka?
What kind of illness is it?

Japanese often omits 私は when the speaker is obvious. However, saying only 病気です still sounds like a definite statement that you have an illness.

具合が悪い: “I Feel Unwell”

具合 means the condition or state of something. When used about health, 具合が悪い means that your physical condition is poor.

今日は少し具合が悪いです。
Kyō wa sukoshi guai ga warui desu.
I feel a little unwell today.

朝から具合が悪くて、仕事を休みました。
Asa kara guai ga warukute, shigoto o yasumimashita.
I felt unwell from the morning, so I took the day off work.

具合はどうですか？
Guai wa dō desu ka?
How are you feeling?

気分が悪い: “I Feel Sick” or “I Feel Nauseated”

気分 can mean feeling, mood, or physical sensation. In a health context, 気分が悪い commonly means that someone feels physically sick, nauseated, faint, or generally unwell.

電車の中で気分が悪くなりました。
Densha no naka de kibun ga waruku narimashita.
I began to feel sick on the train.

気分が悪いので、少し座ってもいいですか？
Kibun ga warui node, sukoshi suwatte mo ii desu ka?
I feel sick, so may I sit down for a while?

吐き気がして、気分が悪いです。
Hakike ga shite, kibun ga warui desu.
I feel nauseated and sick.

Outside a medical context, 気分が悪い can also mean that something is unpleasant or offensive. Context is therefore important.

病気 vs 具合が悪い vs 気分が悪い

Compare Them in One Situation

How to Say “Become Ill” in Japanese

The most general pattern is:

旅行中に病気になりました。
Ryokō-chū ni byōki ni narimashita.
I became ill while traveling.

病気にならないように気をつけています。
Byōki ni naranai yō ni ki o tsukete imasu.
I take care not to become ill.

彼は急に病気になった。
Kare wa kyū ni byōki ni natta.
He suddenly became ill.

病気になる vs 病気にかかる

Both can describe becoming ill, but their focus differs.

子どものころ、大きな病気になりました。
Kodomo no koro, ōkina byōki ni narimashita.
I became seriously ill when I was a child.

その感染症にかかりました。
Sono kansenshō ni kakarimashita.
I contracted that infectious disease.

糖尿病にかかっています。
Tōnyōbyō ni kakatte imasu.
I have diabetes.

How to Say “I Have a Disease”

If you know the name of the condition, saying the specific name is usually clearer than using only 病気.

私は糖尿病です。
Watashi wa tōnyōbyō desu.
I have diabetes.

ぜんそくがあります。
Zensoku ga arimasu.
I have asthma.

心臓の病気があります。
Shinzō no byōki ga arimasu.
I have a heart condition.

For a chronic or pre-existing condition, 持病があります is also useful.

How to Say “Recover from an Illness”

病気はもう治りました。
Byōki wa mō naorimashita.
I have recovered from the illness.

早く元気になってください。
Hayaku genki ni natte kudasai.
I hope you get well soon.

少しずつ回復しています。
Sukoshi zutsu kaifuku shite imasu.
I am gradually recovering.

病気, 症状, 病状, and 病名

How to Describe Being Sick at a Hospital

You do not need to begin by naming a disease. Give the staff four simple kinds of information:

Simple Model Answer

昨日から具合が悪いです。熱があって、せきも出ます。
Kinō kara guai ga warui desu. Netsu ga atte, seki mo demasu.
I have felt unwell since yesterday. I have a fever and a cough.

Doctor–Patient Conversation

Useful Sick and Illness Phrases for Travelers

Mini Conversations in Different Situations

At a Hotel

Calling Work

Talking to a Friend

Explaining a Chronic Condition

Byouin and Byouki: Hospital vs Illness

These words begin with the same kanji but have different meanings.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Treating 病気 Like an English Adjective

Mistake 2: Saying 病気があります for Any Temporary Discomfort

Use 病気があります when specifying a condition, such as 心臓の病気があります. For general temporary discomfort, use 具合が悪いです.

Mistake 3: Using 気分が悪い Only for Mood

気分 can mean mood, but in a health situation 気分が悪い often means feeling physically sick or nauseated.

Mistake 4: Shortening the Long Vowel

病気 is びょうき, not びょき. The long vowel matters.

Mistake 5: Saying a Diagnosis When You Only Know the Symptom

If you are not sure of the illness, say 具合が悪いです and describe your symptoms. A symptom such as a cough or headache is not necessarily the diagnosis.

Mistake 6: Translating Every English “Sick” as 病気

Natural Example Sentences with 病気

祖父は長い間、病気でした。
Sofu wa nagai aida, byōki deshita.
My grandfather was ill for a long time.

病気で旅行をキャンセルしました。
Byōki de ryokō o kyanseru shimashita.
I canceled the trip because of illness.

彼女は病気から回復しました。
Kanojo wa byōki kara kaifuku shimashita.
She recovered from her illness.

病気の原因はまだ分かっていません。
Byōki no gen’in wa mada wakatte imasen.
The cause of the illness is not yet known.

重い病気ではありません。
Omoi byōki de wa arimasen.
It is not a serious illness.

旅行中に病気になってしまいました。
Ryokō-chū ni byōki ni natte shimaimashita.
Unfortunately, I became ill while traveling.

今日は具合が悪いので、早く帰ります。
Kyō wa guai ga warui node, hayaku kaerimasu.
I do not feel well today, so I will go home early.

バスの中で気分が悪くなりました。
Basu no naka de kibun ga waruku narimashita.
I began to feel sick on the bus.

どんな症状があるか教えてください。
Donna shōjō ga aru ka oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me what symptoms you have.

持病とアレルギーがあります。
Jibyō to arerugī ga arimasu.
I have a chronic condition and an allergy.

FAQ About Byouki and “Sick” in Japanese

What does byouki mean in Japanese?

病気 (byōki) is a noun meaning illness, sickness, or disease.

How do you say “sick” in Japanese?

Use 病気です when someone has an illness, 具合が悪いです when someone feels generally unwell, and 気分が悪いです when someone feels sick or nauseated.

How do you say “I’m sick” in Japanese?

For a general temporary problem, 具合が悪いです is often the most useful phrase. 病気です more directly states that you have an illness.

Is it byouki or byōki?

Both represent びょうき. Byōki uses a macron to show the long vowel, while byouki is convenient for typing and search.

Is byouki an adjective?

No. 病気 is a noun. Use 病気です for “is ill” and 病気の人 for “a sick person.”

What is the difference between byouki and guai ga warui?

病気 means an illness or disease. 具合が悪い means that someone’s general physical condition is poor or that they do not feel well.

What is the difference between guai ga warui and kibun ga warui?

具合が悪い describes poor general health. 気分が悪い often describes an immediate feeling of sickness, nausea, faintness, or discomfort.

How do you say “become ill” in Japanese?

Say 病気になる (byōki ni naru).

How do you say “contract a disease” in Japanese?

Use 病気にかかる or name the specific disease followed by にかかる.

How do you say “recover from an illness”?

Use 病気が治る, 元気になる, or the more formal 回復する, depending on context.

What is the difference between byouki and shoujou?

病気 is the illness or disease. 症状 is a symptom or set of symptoms caused by a condition.

What does jibyou mean?

持病 (jibyō) means a chronic or pre-existing medical condition. 持病があります means “I have a chronic condition.”

Summary: Byouki Meaning and How to Say “Sick”

References

• Kotobank: 病気 — dictionary definitions including illness, sickness, disease, and the figurative bad-habit sense.
• Kotobank: 具合 — meanings including physical condition and general state.
• Kotobank Japanese–English Dictionary: 気分 — physical and emotional meanings of 気分が悪い.
• Kotobank: 病状 — the state or progress of an illness.
• The Japan Foundation, Erin’s Challenge, Lesson 16: Explaining Injuries and Illness — beginner learning materials for health and symptom descriptions.
• The Japan Foundation, NIHONGO eな: NIHONGO de CARE-NAVI — Japanese–English vocabulary and example sentences for illness, symptoms, hospitals, and nursing situations.
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: List of medical institutions accepting foreign patients — official information updated in June 2026.
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Multilingual medical explanation materials.