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B1 verb #4,000 am häufigsten 7 Min. Lesezeit

患う

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Erklärung 患う in your Level:

At the A1 level, you usually learn simple words for being sick, like 'byouki' (illness) or 'kaze' (cold). 'Wazurau' is a bit too difficult for this level, but you can think of it as a 'big version' of being sick. Imagine you are not just sick for one day, but for a long, long time. In A1, we focus on the basic idea: [Illness] + 'wazurau' = suffering from that illness. It is like saying 'I have been sick for a long time.' You won't use this word with your friends, but you might see it in a storybook about a sad king or a sick character. Just remember: it is for serious problems, not for a small cough. The kanji is hard, so just looking at it and knowing it means 'serious illness' is enough for now.

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At the A2 level, you are starting to describe people's states in more detail. 'Wazurau' is a verb that helps you describe someone who has a chronic health problem. You might use it when talking about a family member who has been in the hospital for a while. You should know the pattern: 'Byouki wo wazurau.' It is a Godan verb, so it conjugates like 'kau' or 'utau' (wazurau -> wazuraimasu -> wazuratte). At this level, you should be able to distinguish between 'kaze wo hiku' (to catch a cold) and 'byouki wo wazurau' (to suffer from a disease). One is quick and easy; the other is long and difficult. If you see this word in a reading passage, it usually means the character is facing a serious challenge with their health.

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As a B1 learner, you should be able to use 'wazurau' correctly in formal or written contexts. You understand that this word implies a certain level of gravity and duration. You should be comfortable using the progressive form 'wazuratte-iru' to describe an ongoing condition. For example, 'Kanojo wa gan wo wazuratte-iru' (She is suffering from cancer). You also begin to see the metaphorical uses, like 'omoi-wazurau' (to agonize over something). This level requires you to understand the social context: you use this word in news, formal letters, or literature to show empathy and respect for the person's suffering. It's a key word for discussing health issues in a mature way beyond the basic 'itai' (painful) or 'byouki' (sick).

At the B2 level, you should master the nuances between 'wazurau' and its synonyms like 'yamu' or 'kakaru.' You understand that 'wazurau' often takes a direct object with 'wo' (e.g., hai wo wazurau - to have lung trouble). You can use it to talk about history, such as how people in the Edo period 'wazuratta' from specific diseases. You also recognize the word in compound forms like 'koi-wazurau' (lovesick) and understand how the meaning shifts from physical to emotional. Your ability to use this word in a formal speech or a written report about social health issues shows a high level of vocabulary enrichment. You should also be aware of the kanji components and how they relate to the 'heart' and 'pain.'

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At the C1 level, you use 'wazurau' with precision and literary flair. You are familiar with its use in classical and modern literature (e.g., the works of Soseki or Akutagawa) where it describes the existential suffering of the characters. You can use phrases like 'fuchi no yamai wo wazurau' (to suffer from an incurable disease) and understand the rhythmic and tonal impact it has on a sentence. You also understand the passive and causative forms, though they are rare. You can analyze the difference between 'shikkan' (the medical term for disease) and 'wazurai' (the lived experience of suffering). This word becomes a tool for you to express deep empathy and complex human conditions in high-level writing and academic discussions.

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At the C2 level, 'wazurau' is part of your native-like repertoire. You understand the historical evolution of the word from the Heian period to the present. You can appreciate the subtle difference between 'wazurau' and 'nayamu' in philosophical texts. You use the word to discuss not just physical ailments but the 'ailments of society' (shakai no hizumi wo wazurau). You are comfortable with archaic forms and can read the kanji in various contexts, including medical journals where it appears in compounds like 'kanbu' (the affected area). You can discuss the word's etymology and its connection to Japanese concepts of 'wazurai' (trouble/care) versus Western concepts of 'disease.' Your usage is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker.

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患う in 30 Sekunden

A formal verb meaning 'to suffer from an illness.'
Used for chronic or serious conditions, not minor colds.
Commonly paired with the particle 'wo' and the specific disease.
Carries a nuance of long-term struggle and emotional weight.

The Japanese verb 患う (wazurau) is a sophisticated and emotionally resonant word primarily used to describe the state of suffering from a physical or mental illness. While English speakers might simply say "to be sick" or "to have a disease," wazurau carries a weight of endurance and struggle. It is not used for minor, fleeting ailments like a common cold (風邪) or a brief headache; instead, it is reserved for chronic conditions, serious diseases, or long-term health battles that fundamentally affect a person's life.

Etymological Nuance: The kanji 患 (kan) is composed of the radical for "heart" (心) at the bottom and a character representing "piercing" or "skewering" (串) at the top. This visually suggests a heart being pierced by trouble or pain. Historically, wazurau was linked to the word wazurai, meaning worry or anxiety, highlighting the intrinsic link between physical illness and mental distress in the Japanese worldview.

祖父は長い間、重い病を患っていました。(My grandfather suffered from a serious illness for a long time.)

In modern Japanese, you will encounter this word in three main contexts: medical reporting, literature, and formal conversation. When a public figure is diagnosed with a serious condition, news outlets often use wazurau to convey the gravity of the situation. In literature, it often takes on a more poetic or psychological tone, such as in the phrase 恋い患う (koi-wazurau), which means to be "lovesick" or to suffer from the pains of love. This versatility demonstrates that the word encompasses both the physiological breakdown of the body and the emotional burden of the spirit.

Register and Tone: This verb is considered relatively formal (kashikomatta). You wouldn't typically use it to tell your boss you're taking a day off for a fever. Instead, you use it to describe a significant medical history or a life-altering condition. It shows respect for the gravity of the patient's experience.

彼は若くして肺を患い、療養生活を送った。(He suffered from a lung ailment at a young age and lived a life of recuperation.)

Grammatically, 患う (wazurau) functions as a Godan verb. Its most common structure involves the particle を (wo) to indicate the specific illness or body part being afflicted. For example, 病気を患う (byouki wo wazurau) means "to suffer from a disease." However, it can also be used intransitively in specific poetic or older contexts, though the transitive use is standard in modern Japanese.

Common Grammatical Patterns: 1. [Disease] + を患う: To suffer from [disease].
2. [Body Part] + を患う: To have an ailment in [body part].
3. 患っている (Progressive Form): To be currently suffering from/struggling with.

彼女は数年前から糖尿病を患っている。(She has been suffering from diabetes for several years.)

When using the progressive form wazuratte-iru, the focus is on the ongoing nature of the struggle. This is particularly common when discussing chronic illnesses like cancer (癌), heart disease (心臓病), or mental health issues (心の病). It implies that the illness is a constant companion in the person's life. Conversely, the past tense wazuratta often sets the stage for a story or biography, indicating a period of illness that has either concluded or defined a specific era of the person's life.

不治の病を患う主人公の物語。(A story of a protagonist suffering from an incurable disease.)

Combining with Adverbs: It is frequently paired with adverbs like 長く (nagaku - for a long time) or 重く (omoku - seriously). This further clarifies the intensity and duration of the suffering. For example, 長く病を患う (to suffer from illness for a long time) is a standard literary expression.

In daily life, you might not hear wazurau in casual conversation at a coffee shop, but it is ubiquitous in specific domains. Understanding where it appears will help you grasp its social weight. First and foremost, it is a staple of medical and health-related journalism. When a newspaper reports on the health of the Emperor or a famous actor, they will use wazurau to maintain a respectful and serious tone.

Literary Usage: Japanese literature, from the classics to modern novels, uses wazurau to explore the human condition. It is often used to describe the internal conflict of a character. The phrase 思い患う (omoi-wazurau) means to be deeply troubled or to agonize over something, showing that the 'illness' can be purely mental or spiritual.

進路について一人で思い患う。(To agonize alone about one's future career path.)

In historical dramas (Jidaigeki), you will hear this word constantly. Since infectious diseases like smallpox or tuberculosis were major plot points in history, characters often discuss who is wazuratte-iru. In this context, it feels archaic and heavy, fitting the dramatic atmosphere. Similarly, in documentaries about people living with disabilities or rare diseases, the narrator will use wazurau to acknowledge the person's strength in the face of long-term suffering.

Pop Culture: Anime and Manga: In tragic or dramatic anime, a character might have a secret illness. The reveal often uses the phrase "実は重い病を患っていて..." (Actually, I've been suffering from a serious illness...). It adds a layer of pathos that the simple word byouki (sick) lacks.

One of the most frequent mistakes English learners make is using wazurau for minor health issues. Because the English translation is often "to be ill," students might use it for a stomach ache or a cold. However, in Japanese, this sounds extremely dramatic or even sarcastic. If you say "Kaze wo wazuratta" (I suffered from a cold), it sounds like you are treating a minor sniffle as a life-threatening crisis.

Mistake 1: Duration and Severity: Incorrect: 二日酔いを患っています (I am suffering from a hangover).
Correct: 二日酔いです (I have a hangover).
Reason: Wazurau implies a long-term or serious condition, not a temporary state like a hangover.

Another common error involves the particle choice. While wo is standard, some learners confuse it with ni naru (to become). Byouki ni naru describes the moment of getting sick, whereas byouki wo wazurau describes the state of living with the illness. Confusing these can make your Japanese sound disjointed. Additionally, learners often forget the kanji and rely on hiragana. While wazurau in hiragana is acceptable, using the kanji 患う is preferred in formal writing to distinguish it from other words.

× 彼は風邪を患ったので休みます。
○ 彼は風邪をひいたので休みます。

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Yamu': Learners often confuse wazurau with yamu (病む). While similar, yamu is often used for mental states or poetic descriptions of pain, whereas wazurau is more grounded in the physical manifestation of disease.

To truly master wazurau, you must understand its neighbors in the Japanese vocabulary. There are several ways to express "being sick," each with a different shade of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on the formality, the type of illness, and the focus of your sentence.

1. 病む (Yamu): This is very close to wazurau but is often used for mental health (気に病む - to worry oneself sick) or in very literary contexts. It feels slightly more internal and subjective than wazurau.
2. 罹る (Kakaru): Specifically used for catching infectious diseases or viruses (e.g., インフルエンザに罹る). It focuses on the event of contracting the illness rather than the long-term suffering.
3. 害する (Gaisuru) / 損なう (Sokonau): These mean "to damage" or "to harm" and are used with health (健康を害する). They focus on the external factors or habits that led to poor health.

比較:
1. 病気を患う (Focus: Endurance/Chronic state)
2. 病気に罹る (Focus: Infection/Onset)
3. 体を壊す (Focus: Physical breakdown, often from overwork)

When you want to be extremely formal, you might use the noun form 闘病 (toubyou), which means "fighting a disease." Phrases like 闘病生活を送る (to lead a life of fighting a disease) are common in news and biographies to emphasize the patient's struggle and courage. In contrast, wazurau is the verb that describes the condition itself.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The kanji 患 (kan) depicts a skewer (串) through a heart (心). This vivid imagery perfectly captures the feeling of a sharp, piercing pain or a heavy burden on one's life.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /wazɯɾaɯ/

US /wazɯɾaɯ/

Heiban (Flat) style. All syllables are generally pronounced with the same pitch or a slight rise after the first syllable.

Reimt sich auf

utau (to sing) kau (to buy) warau (to laugh) harau (to pay) au (to meet) narau (to learn) hirau (to pick up) kurau (to eat/drink)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'zu' as 'dzu' too strongly.
English 'r' sound instead of the Japanese flap.
Over-rounding the final 'u'.
Confusing 'wazurau' with 'wazurawashii' (troublesome).
Incorrect pitch accent on the middle syllables.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

The kanji is complex and not part of the most basic set, but common in news.

Schreiben 4/5

Writing the kanji 患 correctly requires attention to the strokes in 'kushi' and 'kokoro'.

Sprechen 3/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, but knowing when to use it requires nuance.

Hören 3/5

Easily confused with 'wazurawashii' (troublesome) if the ending isn't clear.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

病気 (byouki) 痛い (itai) 治る (naoru) 入院 (nyuuin) 体 (karada)

Als Nächstes lernen

疾患 (shikkan) 闘病 (toubyou) 療養 (ryouyou) 後遺症 (kouishou) 持病 (jibyou)

Fortgeschritten

宿痾 (shukua) 痼疾 (koshitsu) 篤い (atsui - as in 'illness is serious') 病む (yamu) 癒える (ieru)

Wichtige Grammatik

Godan Verb Conjugation

患う (u) -> 患います (imasu), 患った (tta), 患わない (wanai).

Particle 'wo' for Affliction

病気を患う (Direct object marker).

Progressive 'te-iru' for State

彼は今、癌を患っている (Ongoing suffering).

Compound Verb Formation

思い (stem of omou) + 患う = 思い患う.

Noun Modification

病を患う人々 (The verb phrase modifies the noun).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

おじいさんは病気を患っています。

My grandfather is suffering from an illness.

Simple present polite form.

彼は長い間、病を患った。

He suffered from an illness for a long time.

Past tense plain form.

有名な人が病気を患いました。

A famous person suffered from an illness.

Polite past tense.

猫が目を患っている。

The cat has an eye ailment.

Progressive form for animal health.

王様は心を患いました。

The king suffered in his heart (mind).

Metaphorical use for sadness.

彼女は足を患っているそうです。

I heard she has a foot ailment.

Using 'sou desu' for hearsay.

重い病気を患わないように気をつけてください。

Please be careful not to suffer from a serious illness.

Negative 'nai' form.

母は腰を患っています。

My mother suffers from a bad back.

Describing a specific body part.

祖母は膝を患っていて、歩くのが大変です。

My grandmother has a knee ailment and finds it hard to walk.

Using the 'te' form to connect sentences.

彼は子供の頃から喘息を患っている。

He has suffered from asthma since he was a child.

Using 'kara' to show duration.

多くの人がその病気を患いました。

Many people suffered from that disease.

Plural subject usage.

彼女は最近、胃を患っているようです。

It seems she has been suffering from stomach trouble lately.

Using 'you desu' for appearance/inference.

彼は恋を患って、食事が喉を通りません。

He is lovesick and cannot eat.

Idiomatic use of 'koi wo wazurau'.

父は心臓を患い、入院することになった。

My father suffered from heart trouble and ended up being hospitalized.

Stem form 'wazurai' used as a conjunction.

長い間患っていた病気が治りました。

The illness I suffered from for a long time has been cured.

Relative clause modifying 'byouki'.

彼は重い病気を患いながらも、仕事を続けた。

Even while suffering from a serious illness, he continued to work.

Using 'nagara mo' for contrast.

その作家は晩年、肺結核を患っていた。

That author suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis in his later years.

Specific historical disease name.

不治の病を患う人々のための施設です。

It is a facility for people suffering from incurable diseases.

Noun modification with a complex phrase.

一人で悩み、思い患うのは良くない。

It is not good to worry and agonize over things alone.

Compound verb 'omoi-wazurau'.

彼は持病を患っており、毎日の薬が欠かせない。

He suffers from a chronic condition and cannot do without daily medication.

Using 'jibyou' (chronic illness).

彼女は精神的な病を患い、休養している。

She is suffering from a mental illness and is taking a break.

Mental health context.

重い病気を患った経験が、彼を強くした。

The experience of suffering from a serious illness made him strong.

Experience 'keiken' as a subject.

彼は糖尿病を患い、食事制限を余儀なくされている。

He suffers from diabetes and is forced to restrict his diet.

Passive form 'yoginaku sarete-iru'.

祖父が患っているのは、非常に稀な病気だ。

What my grandfather is suffering from is a very rare disease.

Nominalizing the verb with 'no wa'.

彼は長年、胃潰瘍を患い、手術を繰り返してきた。

He has suffered from gastric ulcers for many years and has had repeated surgeries.

Describing a long-term medical history.

名優が癌を患っているというニュースが流れた。

News broke that the famous actor is suffering from cancer.

Quoting news content.

幼い頃に大病を患ったせいで、体が弱い。

Because I suffered a major illness as a child, my body is weak.

Cause and effect with 'sei de'.

彼女は恋い患って、仕事が手につかない様子だ。

She seems to be lovesick and can't focus on her work.

Compound verb 'koi-wazurau'.

彼は難病を患いながらも、前向きに生きている。

Despite suffering from an intractable disease, he lives positively.

Contrast with 'nagara mo'.

その地域では、多くの住民が公害病を患った。

In that area, many residents suffered from pollution-related diseases.

Social/Environmental context.

彼は内臓を患っており、激しい運動は禁じられている。

He suffers from an internal organ ailment, and vigorous exercise is prohibited.

Medical restriction context.

彼は独りで思い患うあまり、体調を崩してしまった。

Because he agonized so much alone, he ended up ruining his health.

Using 'amari' to show excess.

漱石は晩年、胃弱に加えて神経衰弱をも患っていた。

In his later years, Soseki suffered from neurasthenia in addition to a weak stomach.

Literary biography context.

彼は痼疾を患い、世捨て人のような生活を送っている。

Suffering from a chronic ailment, he lives like a hermit.

Using advanced vocabulary like 'koshitsu' (chronic ailment).

現代社会の歪みを患っているのは、我々自身かもしれない。

It might be ourselves who are suffering from the distortions of modern society.

Abstract/Philosophical usage.

彼は長らく胸を患っていたが、ついに帰らぬ人となった。

He had long suffered from chest trouble (tuberculosis), but finally passed away.

Euphemism for death ('kaeranu hito').

流行り病を患った村人たちは、隔離を余儀なくされた。

The villagers who suffered from the epidemic were forced into isolation.

Historical/Societal context.

彼は自らの才能に溺れ、同時にその才能に患わされていた。

He was drowned in his own talent, and at the same time, afflicted by it.

Passive form 'wazurawarete-iru' in a metaphorical sense.

不治の病を患うという過酷な運命を、彼は静かに受け入れた。

He quietly accepted the harsh fate of suffering from an incurable disease.

Complex noun phrase as an object.

彼女は慢性の偏頭痛を患っており、光や音に非常に敏感だ。

She suffers from chronic migraines and is extremely sensitive to light and sound.

Describing symptoms and sensitivity.

彼は宿痾を患い、その苦痛は筆舌に尽くしがたいものがあった。

He suffered from a deep-seated chronic disease, and the pain was beyond description.

Using 'shukua' (long-standing illness) and 'hitsuzetsu ni tsukushigatai'.

国全体が未曾有の不況を患い、国民の疲弊は極限に達していた。

The entire nation suffered from an unprecedented recession, and the exhaustion of the citizens had reached its limit.

Metaphorical use for national economy.

彼は若き日の放蕩がたたり、晩年は肝臓を患って苦しんだ。

His youthful debauchery came back to haunt him, and he suffered from liver trouble in his later years.

Cause and effect with 'tatari' (curse/consequence).

その老哲学者は、知の深淵に触れることで精神を患ったと言われている。

It is said that the old philosopher suffered a mental breakdown by touching the abyss of knowledge.

High-level intellectual context.

彼女は長年、得体の知れない倦怠感を患い、諸国を遍歴した。

Suffering from a mysterious lethargy for years, she wandered through various countries.

Describing a vague but persistent condition.

彼は病を患うことで、生の本質を垣間見たのかもしれない。

By suffering from illness, he might have glimpsed the essence of life.

Philosophical reflection.

かつての英雄も、老いと病を患えば、ただの脆弱な一老人に過ぎない。

Even a former hero, once afflicted by age and illness, is nothing more than a fragile old man.

Conditional 'eba' with 'sugi nai'.

彼は時代の閉塞感を患い、革命の戦火に身を投じた。

Afflicted by the sense of entrapment of the era, he threw himself into the fires of revolution.

Abstract sociological suffering.

Häufige Kollokationen

病を患う

肺を患う

胸を患う

持病を患う

精神を患う

内臓を患う

重く患う

長く患う

恋を患う

難病を患う

Häufige Phrasen

思い患う

— To agonize over something or be deeply worried. It shifts the 'illness' to a mental state of distress.

将来について独りで思い患う。

恋い患う

— To be lovesick. To suffer physically or mentally because of intense love.

彼女に会えなくて恋い患っている。

患部

— The affected part or the diseased area of the body. Used in medical contexts.

患部に薬を塗ってください。

患者

— A patient. Someone who is suffering from an illness and receiving treatment.

多くの患者が回復を待っている。

疾患

— A disease or ailment. Often used in medical or formal documents.

心疾患の疑いがある。

患い

— The noun form, meaning illness or trouble. Often used in older Japanese.

長年の患いがようやく治った。

重患

— A serious illness or a patient in critical condition.

病院には重患が運ばれてきた。

内患

— Internal troubles or domestic problems (often within a country or family).

内憂外患の時代。

外患

— External troubles or foreign pressure.

外患を退ける。

患家

— A family with a sick member or a patient's home.

患家を訪問する。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

患う vs 煩う (wazurau)

Same pronunciation, but this kanji is used for being troubled or annoyed by something external, rather than illness.

患う vs 病む (yamu)

Similar meaning, but 'yamu' focuses more on the state of being sick, while 'wazurau' focuses on the suffering/affliction.

患う vs 罹る (kakaru)

Refers to the moment of infection or catching a disease, whereas 'wazurau' refers to the ongoing state.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"恋は患い"

— Love is a sickness. Suggesting that love causes suffering similar to a disease.

ことわざに「恋は患い」と言う。

Proverb

"思い患うは身の毒"

— Agonizing over things is poison to the body. Worrying too much harms your health.

あまり思い患うな。思い患うは身の毒だぞ。

Idiomatic advice

"患部をえぐる"

— To gouge out the affected part. Metaphorically, to get to the root of a painful problem.

彼の質問は事件の患部をえぐった。

Metaphorical

"病を患うより心を患え"

— Rather than suffering from a physical illness, worry about the state of your heart/mind.

古人は「病を患うより心を患え」と説いた。

Philosophical

"一病息災"

— Having one illness leads to better health overall (because the person takes better care of themselves).

一病息災というから、患ったことで健康に気をつけるようになった。

Yojijukugo (Idiom)

"無病息災"

— Perfect health; being free from any illness or disaster.

家族の無病息災を祈る。

Yojijukugo

"内憂外患"

— Troubles within and without. Often used for political or organizational crises.

今の会社はまさに内憂外患の状態だ。

Political/Formal

"患を未然に防ぐ"

— To prevent trouble before it happens.

セキュリティを強化して、患を未然に防ぐ。

Formal

"心患"

— A hidden worry or a source of anxiety in the heart.

彼には誰にも言えない心患があるようだ。

Literary

"患いを残す"

— To leave behind a source of trouble or an unresolved issue.

このまま辞めると、後々に患いを残すことになる。

General

Leicht verwechselbar

患う vs 患わしい (wazurawashii)

Same root sound.

This is an adjective meaning 'troublesome', 'annoying', or 'complicated'. It does not mean 'sick'.

患わしい手続き (Troublesome procedures).

患う vs 悩む (nayamu)

Both involve mental distress.

'Nayamu' is more about general worry or decision-making. 'Wazurau' is about a deep-seated affliction or illness.

進路に悩む (Worrying about one's path).

患う vs 苦しむ (kurushimu)

Both mean to suffer.

'Kurushimu' is a broader term for any pain (physical or mental). 'Wazurau' is specifically linked to a pathological condition.

貧乏に苦しむ (Suffering from poverty).

患う vs 壊す (kowasu)

Used in 'karada wo kowasu'.

'Kowasu' implies breaking one's health due to overwork or bad habits. 'Wazurau' is the state of the resulting illness.

働きすぎて体を壊した。

患う vs 疼く (uzuku)

Relates to physical pain.

'Uzuku' means to throb or ache (like a toothache or wound). 'Wazurau' is the whole state of the disease.

傷口が疼く。

Satzmuster

[Person] は [Disease] を患っている。

彼は心臓病を患っている。

[Person] は長く [Disease] を患った。

彼女は長く肺病を患った。

[Disease] を患う [Noun]。

難病を患う子供たち。

[Person] は [Body Part] を患っている。

祖父は腰を患っている。

[Person] は [Abstract Concept] を思い患う。

彼は人生の意味を思い患う。

[Person] は [Disease] を患いながらも、[Action]。

彼は病を患いながらも、筆を置かなかった。

[Noun] は [Metaphorical Disease] を患っている。

この街は、虚無という病を患っている。

[Person] は [Old/Rare Term] を患う。

彼は宿痾を患い、静養に努めた。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

患い (wazurai - illness/trouble)

患者 (kanja - patient)

疾患 (shikkan - disease)

患部 (kanbu - affected area)

重患 (juukan - serious illness)

Verben

思い患う (omoi-wazurau - to agonize)

恋い患う (koi-wazurau - to be lovesick)

患わせる (wazurawaseru - to cause trouble/afflict)

Adjektive

患わしい (wazurawashii - troublesome/annoying - related root)

Verwandt

病気 (byouki - illness)

苦しむ (kurushimu - to suffer)

悩む (nayamu - to worry)

病む (yamu - to be ill)

罹患 (rikan - contracting a disease)

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frequency

Common in medical, journalistic, and literary contexts; rare in casual daily chat.

Häufige Fehler

Using it for a cold (風邪を患う). → 風邪をひく (Kaze wo hiku).
Wazurau is too heavy for a minor cold. It sounds like you are dying of a common sniffle.
Confusing it with 'Wazurawashii' (患わしい). → This is an adjective for 'annoying'.
Learners often say 'Kono shigoto wa wazurau' (This job is sick) when they mean 'Kono shigoto wa wazurawashii' (This job is a hassle).
Using 'ni' instead of 'wo' for the disease. → 癌を患う (Gan wo wazurau).
While 'ni' is sometimes seen in older texts, 'wo' is the standard particle for the direct object of this verb in modern Japanese.
Using it for injuries (Kizu wo wazurau). → 怪我をする (Kega wo suru).
Wazurau is for diseases (pathological conditions), not physical injuries like cuts or broken bones.
Incorrect kanji (煩う instead of 患う). → 患う (for illness).
煩う is for mental troubles or being annoyed. 患う is specifically for medical/health suffering.

Tipps

Choose the Right Illness

Always pair 'wazurau' with serious conditions. If the illness lasts more than a week or requires significant treatment, 'wazurau' is appropriate. For a 24-hour bug, stick to 'byouki' or 'taichou ga warui'.

Use the Progressive Form

When describing someone's current health battle, use 'wazuratte-iru'. This emphasizes the ongoing nature of their condition and sounds more natural than the plain 'wazurau'.

Kanji Components

Remember the 'skewer through the heart' imagery. It helps you remember that 'wazurau' is a deep, piercing kind of suffering.

Show Empathy

Using 'wazurau' shows you understand the gravity of someone's situation. It is a more empathetic word than the clinical 'byouki ni naru'.

Look for Compounds

Words like 'omoi-wazurau' and 'koi-wazurau' are common in novels. If you see them, know that the character is in deep emotional pain.

Medical Terminology

If you are taking the JLPT or studying medical Japanese, pay attention to the 'kan' reading of the kanji 患. It appears in almost every word related to patients and diseases.

Flat Pitch

Japanese pitch accent is vital. 'Wazurau' is flat. If you emphasize the 'zu', it might sound like a different word to native ears.

Avoid Self-Drama

Don't use 'wazurau' for your own minor problems (like a paper cut) in front of others. It can come off as seeking excessive attention or being melodramatic.

Formal Reports

In business or formal reports about an employee's long-term absence, 'wazurau' is the correct term to use in the description of their status.

Wazurau vs Kakaru

Remember: 'Kakaru' is the 'getting' (infection), 'Wazurau' is the 'having' (suffering). You catch a virus (kakaru), then you suffer from the disease (wazurau).

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Wazu' as 'Was' and 'Rau' as 'Raw'. When you suffer from a disease, your health *was* good, but now it feels *raw* and painful.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine the kanji 患 as a heart with a pin through it. That pin is the disease that you are 'wazurau-ing' from.

Word Web

Illness Heart Suffering Chronic Patient Agony Hospital Recovery

Herausforderung

Try to write three sentences describing a historical figure's health using 'wazurau' in the past tense.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old Japanese verb 'wazurau', which meant to be troubled, to be anxious, or to struggle with a difficult task. Over time, it specifically became associated with physical and mental illness.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To be in a state of distress or trouble.

Japonic

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using this word about someone else's minor illness; it can sound like you are exaggerating their condition. Only use it for serious or chronic states.

English speakers often say 'fighting cancer' or 'battling an illness.' 'Wazurau' captures the 'suffering' part of that battle more than the 'fighting' part.

Natsume Soseki's biographies often mention his 'shinkei-suijaku' (neurasthenia) which he wazuratta. The phrase 'Koi-wazurai' is a common trope in Shoujo manga and Enka songs. News reports on the health of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Medical History

過去に大病を患ったことはありますか？
家族に心臓を患った者はいますか？
持病を患っている場合は教えてください。
患部を見せてください。

Literature/Biographies

彼は孤独と病を患っていた。
不治の病を患うヒロイン。
晩年は病に患わされる日々だった。
思い患う心を詩に託した。

News/Reporting

〇〇氏が癌を患っていることが判明した。
長く病を患っていた前大統領が逝去した。
感染症を患う患者が急増している。
重い疾患を患う人々への支援。

Daily Life (Chronic Pain)

母は昔から膝を患っていて...
最近、胃を患っている気がする。
彼は持病を患いながら働いている。
腰を患うと何をするにも不便だ。

Metaphorical/Emotional

彼は恋い患っているようだ。
独りで思い患うのはやめなさい。
現代人は心の病を患いやすい。
社会の不条理を患う。

Gesprächseinstiege

"「最近、体調はどう？長く患っているところはない？」"

"「あの有名な俳優、重い病気を患っているらしいね。」"

"「昔、大病を患った経験ってある？」"

"「思い患うことがあったら、いつでも相談してね。」"

"「恋い患って眠れない夜なんて、あったりする？」"

Tagebuch-Impulse

もし自分が重い病気を患ったら、一番に何をしたいか書いてみよう。

「思い患う」ことがあった時、どうやって解決するか自分の方法を記述してください。

身近に病気を患っている人がいたら、どのような言葉をかけたいですか？

「恋い患う」という言葉を使って、短い物語を作ってみましょう。

健康であることのありがたさを、患った時の経験を交えて書いてください。

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically yes, but it sounds very dramatic or ironic. Usually, you should use 'kaze wo hiku' for a cold and reserve 'wazurau' for serious illnesses like pneumonia or cancer.

It is primarily transitive, taking the particle 'wo' (e.g., 病気を患う). However, in some contexts, it can be used intransitively, though this is less common in modern speech.

'Wazurau' emphasizes the affliction and the struggle with a specific disease. 'Yamu' is more general and can be used for poetic descriptions of pain or mental instability (e.g., 気に病む).

It is a Godan verb ending in 'u'. Conjugation: wazurau (plain), wazuraimasu (polite), wazuratta (past), wazuratte (te-form), wazurawanai (negative).

It means 'lovesickness.' It describes a state where someone is so in love that they feel physically ill or deeply distressed.

Yes, '心の病を患う' (to suffer from a mental illness) is a very common and respectful way to describe it.

Yes! It's in 'kanja' (patient), 'kanbu' (affected area), and 'shikkan' (disease). Learning the verb helps you understand these medical terms.

Historically, Japanese culture did not separate physical and mental suffering. A disease was seen as something that troubled the 'kokoro' (heart/mind) as much as the body.

Yes, but mostly in formal contexts, news reports, or when talking about serious topics. You wouldn't use it in casual banter with friends.

There isn't a single direct opposite verb, but 'naoru' (to be cured) or 'sukoyaka' (healthy) represent the opposite state.

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