How do you say "sick" in Japanese?

病気の

byouki no

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "sick" is 病気の (byouki no).

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Pronunciation

病気の is written using kanji. Romanised as byouki no, it sounds roughly like "byoh-kee-noh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Byouki no (病気の) uses の to connect this noun to another word, functioning as an adjective. The kanji 病 appears in many medical terms like 病院 (hospital) and 病名 (disease name).

Example sentence

彼女は今日病気です。

Kanojo wa kyou byouki desu.

She is sick today.

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How to remember 病気の

Picture someone in bed surrounded by the kanji 病. The 病 kanji looks complex, suggesting the seriousness of illness.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 病気の

How do you pronounce 病気の?

病気の is romanised as byouki no. Say it roughly like "byoh-kee-noh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 病気の formal or casual?

病気の is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 病気の written in Japanese?

病気の is written using kanji. Byouki no (病気の) uses の to connect this noun to another word, functioning as an adjective.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Sick" in other languages

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