(MOVIE) Survival Japanese: Phrases for When You Are Not Feeling Well

Date published: 22 March 2016
Last updated: 7 November 2018

No one wants to anticipate their trip to Japan being interrupted by a health problem or injury. Nevertheless, it’s important to be prepared in the event that something does occur. While feeling under the weather in one's home country is less than ideal, becoming sick in a foreign country can be stressful, or even frightening if you cannot fully communicate. However, with a few key phrases, you should be able to receive the care you need while staying in Japan.

Common Phrases

These are some phrases related to basic health ailments.

I'm not feeling well.: 気分が良くない。 (kibun ga yokunai.)

I'm feeling bad / ill.: 気分が悪い。 (kibun ga warui.)

I have a headache. (Literal meaning: head hurts): 頭が痛いです。 (atama ga itai (desu).)

I have a stomachache. (Literal meaning: stomach hurts.): お腹が痛いです。 (onaka ga itai (desu).)

My throat hurts.: 喉が痛いです。 (nodo ga itai (desu).)

My ______ hurts.: _____が痛いです。 (_____ ga itai (desu).)

I have a fever.: 熱があります。 (netsu ga arimasu.)

I feel like vomiting.: 吐きそうです。 (haki sō (desu).)

I feel dizzy.: めまいがします。 (memai ga shimasu.)

I have a runny nose.: 鼻水が出ます。 (hanamizu ga demasu.)

I have a cough.: 咳が出ます。 (seki ga demasu.)

I have no appetite.: 食欲がありません。 (shokuyoku ga arimasen.)

Where is the nearest hospital?: 最も近い病院はどこですか。 (mottomo chikai byōin wa doko desu ka?)

Where is the nearest pharmacy?: 最も近い医者はどこですか。 (mottomo chikai isha wa doko desu ka.)

Please call an ambulance.: 救急車を呼んでください。 (kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.)

Please call a doctor.: 医者を呼んでください。 (isha o yonde kudasai.)

Is there a doctor who can speak [language name]?: _____語を話せる医者はいますか。 (_____ go o hanaseru isha wa imasu ka?)

I feel unwell, so I cannot come. (Literal meaning: I will rest.): 体調不良のため行けません。 (taichō furyō tame ikemasen.)

I need medicine for _____, please.: _____の薬をお願いします。 (_____ no kusuri o onegai shimasu.)

Can I continue traveling?: 旅行を続けても良いですか。 (ryokō o tsuzukete mo yoi desu ka?)

I feel a bit better.: 体調が少し良くなりました。 (taichō ga sukoshi yoku narimashita.)

Body Parts

head: 頭 (atama)

eye: 目 (me)

nose: 鼻 (hana)

throat: 喉 (nodo)

neck: 首 (kubi)

stomach: お腹・胃 (onaka ・ i)

chest: 胸 (mune)

back: 背中 (senaka)

lower back: 腰 (koshi)

shoulder: 肩 (kata)

arm: 腕 (ude)

hand: 手 (te)

finger: 指 (yubi)

wrist: 手首 (tekubi)

leg, foot: 足 (ashi)

knee: 膝 (hiza)

ankle: 足首 (ashikubi)

toe: 足の指 (ashi no yubi)

lung: 肺 (hai)

heart: 心臓 (shinzō)

uterus: 子宮 (shikyū)

skin: 皮膚 (hifu)

bone: 骨 (hone)

muscle: 筋肉 (kin niku)

General Terms

The following are some general health-related terms that you may want to know.

pain: 痛み (itami)

disease, sickness: 病気 (byōki)

fever: 熱 (netsu)

cough: 咳 (seki)

headache: 頭痛 (zutsū)

migraine: 偏頭痛 (henzustū)

stomach: お腹・胃 (onaka ・ i)

My (eye) is itchy.: 目がかゆい。 ((me) ga kayui.)

mucous: 鼻水 (hana mizu)

breath: 呼吸 (kokyū)

cold (as in, 'to catch a cold'): 風邪 (kaze)

diarrhea: 下痢 (geri)

constipation: 便秘 (benpi)

blood: 血 (chi)

menstrual period: 生理 (seiri)

menstrual pain: 生理痛 (seiri tsū)

on one’s period: 生理中 (seirichū)

pregnancy: 妊娠 (ninshin)

pregnant: 妊娠中 (ninshinchū)

hay fever: 花粉症 (kafunshō)

I have a _____ allergy.: _____アレルギーがあります。 (_____ arerugī ga arimasu.)

lactose intolerance: 乳糖不耐性 (nyūtō futaisei)

diabetes: 糖尿病 (tōnyō byō)

pacemaker: ペースメーカー (pēsumekā)

heart disease: 心臓病 (shinzōbyō)

epilepsy: 癲癇 (tenkan)

Hospital Words

Should you need to visit a hospital or clinic while staying in Japan, here are some phrases to help you communicate with the doctors, nurses, and other staff.

pain: 痛み (itami)

hospital: 病院 (byōin)

clinic: クリニック (kurinikku)

insurance: 保険 (hoken)

doctor: 医師 (ishi)

nurse: 看護師 (kangoshi)

ambulance: 救急車 (kyūkyūsha)

exam: 検査 (kensa)

medical, physical exam: 健康診断 (kenkō shindan)

diagnosis: 診断 (shindan)

ear, nose and throat (dept., etc.): 耳鼻科 (jibika)

internal medicine: 内科 (naika)

surgical department: 外科 (geka)

X-ray: レントゲン (rentogen)

CAT/CT scan: CAT・CT スキャン・検査 (CAT・CT sukyan ・ kensa)

ultrasound: 超音波 (chō onpa)

surgery: 手術 (shujutsu)

The bone is broken.: 骨が折れた。 (hone ga oreta.)

bone fracture: 骨折 (kossetsu)

sprain: 捻挫 (nenza)

injury, damage: 損傷 (sonshō)

cut: 傷 (kizu)

wound: 創傷 (sōshō)

painkiller: 鎮痛剤 (chintsūzai)

stomach medicine: 胃薬 (igusuri)

headache medicine: 頭痛薬 (zutsūyaku)

cold medicine: 風邪薬 (kazegusuri)

Have a Happy and Healthy Visit to Japan!

If someone is sick and you would like to wish them well, you can use the following phrase:

Get well soon. (Literal meaning: take care of yourself): お大事に (odaiji ni)

We wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Japan visit!

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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