1.
to feel sick; to feel nauseous; to feel unwell
To experience physical discomfort such as nausea, dizziness, or general malaise.
2.
to feel bad; to feel unpleasant; to be in a bad mood
To experience an unpleasant emotional state, whether caused by someone's behavior, a situation, or one's own mood.
An essential everyday expression combining 気分 (mood, feeling) with 悪い (bad). This is one of the most important phrases for learners to know when they need to communicate physical discomfort in Japanese.
The physical sense (sense 1) is especially useful in practical situations: on public transportation, at work, or in medical settings. The phrase 気分が悪くなった (I started feeling sick) is commonly heard on trains and buses in Japan.
Usage
- The past form 気分が悪かった describes a past state
- The change-of-state form 気分が悪くなる means "to start feeling sick/bad"
- In polite speech: 気分が悪いです or 気分が優れません (more formal)
Similar words
- 具合が悪い: to feel unwell — very similar but focuses more on physical condition; slightly more objective
- 体調が悪い: to be in poor physical condition — emphasizes ongoing health rather than momentary feeling
- 気持ちが悪い: to feel disgusted, to feel creepy — stronger emotional reaction, often to something repulsive
- 吐き気がする: to feel nauseous — specifically about the urge to vomit