It’s a very common mistake among Japanese learners to say 「私は病気(びょうき)です」 when they want to express that they are feeling unwell.

However, this phrase can make native speakers very worried because it sounds like you’re making a serious confession about your health. When you say 「私は病気です」, it gives the impression that you might have been diagnosed with a severe illness, or that you’re revealing something that requires serious medical attention.

In Japanese dramas or films, you might often hear the word 「病気」, but the scene is usually something quite serious, like a character needing surgery, special treatment, or even confessing that they don’t have long to live.

There’s no clear guideline, but here are my recommendations:

When to Use 「病気(びょうき)」:

  • If you want to express that your condition is serious.
  • If the illness has a specific name (e.g., cancer, leukemia, kidney disease, diabetes, pneumonia).
  • If the treatment requires a certain length of time (NOT flu or COVID-19, as natives usually use インフルエンザ or コロナ, not 病気).

How to Express That You Are Feeling Unwell:

  • 具合が悪いです。 (ぐあいがわるいです。)— “I’m not feeling well.”
  • 体の調子が悪いです。/体調が悪いです。(からだのちょうしがわるいです。/たいちょうがわるいです。)— “My body’s condition is not good.”
  • 体が辛いです。(からだがつらいです。)— “My body feels heavy/tired.”
  • 風邪を引きました。(かぜをひきました。)— “I caught a cold.”
  • 気持ち悪いです。(きもちわるいです。)— “I feel nauseous.”
  • 喉が痛いです。(のどがいたいです。)— “I have a sore throat.”
  • 咳が出ます。(せきがでます。)— “I have a cough.”
  • 花粉症が辛いです。(かふんしょうがつらいです。) — “My hay fever is really bothering me.”
  • 生理痛があります。(せいりつうがあります。) — “I have menstrual cramps.”
  • 腰が痛いです。(こしがいたいです。) — “I have a backache.”

    Using these alternative expressions will help you sound more natural and avoid giving the impression that your condition is more serious than it actually is.

Daily Conversation Examples:

  • 昨日、彼女は顔色が悪くて具合が悪そうでした。(きのう、かのじょはかおいろがわるくてぐあいがわるそうでした。)— “Yesterday, she looked pale and seemed unwell.”
  • 具合が悪いので帰っても大丈夫ですか?(ぐあいがわるいのでかえってもだいじょうぶですか?)— “I’m not feeling well. Is it okay if I go home?”
  • つらそうですね。風邪ですか?(つらそうですね。かぜですか?)— “You look like you’re suffering. Do you have a cold?”
  • 大丈夫ですか?アレルギーですか?(だいじょうぶですか?アレルギーですか?) — “Are you alright? Do you have allergies?”
  • 熱はありますか?(ねつはありますか?)— “Do you have a fever?”
  • 熱は下がりました。(ねつはさがりました。)— “My fever has gone down.”
  • 最近、咳が出てよく眠れません。(さいきん、せきがでてよくねむれません。)— “Recently, I’ve been coughing and haven’t been able to sleep well.”
  • 気持ち悪くて、食欲がありません。(きもちわるくて、しょくよくがありません。)— “I feel nauseous and don’t have an appetite.”
  • 薬は飲みましたか?(くすりはのみましたか?)— “Did you take any medicine?”
  • 病院に行きましたか?(びょういんにいきましたか?)— “Did you go to the hospital?”
  • 昨日から歯が痛いんです。(きのうからはがいたいんです。)— “My tooth has been hurting since yesterday.”

Difference Between 具合 (ぐあい) and 調子 (ちょうし)

  • 具合 (ぐあい):

This word is often used to describe a general feeling or state of being, particularly when referring to health or how one feels. For example, 具合が悪い (ぐあいがわるい) means “I’m not feeling well,” which implies a more subjective experience of discomfort or unease.

  • 調子 (ちょうし):

This term is used to describe a more objective condition or state of something, including health, but also extending to other areas like performance or operation. For example, 体の調子が悪い (からだのちょうしがわるい) means “My body’s condition is not good,” which could imply a specific physical ailment affecting your overall performance or well-being.