患う
患う 30초 만에
- 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?
재미있는 사실
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.
발음 가이드
- 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.
난이도
The kanji is complex and not part of the most basic set, but common in news.
Writing the kanji 患 correctly requires attention to the strokes in 'kushi' and 'kokoro'.
The pronunciation is straightforward, but knowing when to use it requires nuance.
Easily confused with 'wazurawashii' (troublesome) if the ending isn't clear.
다음에 무엇을 배울까
선수 학습
다음에 배울 것
고급
알아야 할 문법
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).
수준별 예문
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.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
— 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。
— 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。
— 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。
— 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。
— A disease or ailment. Often used in medical or formal documents.
心疾患の疑いがある。
— 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。
— A serious illness or a patient in critical condition.
病院には重患が運ばれてきた。
— Internal troubles or domestic problems (often within a country or family).
内憂外患の時代。
— External troubles or foreign pressure.
外患を退ける。
— A family with a sick member or a patient's home.
患家を訪問する。
자주 혼동되는 단어
Same pronunciation, but this kanji is used for being troubled or annoyed by something external, rather than illness.
Similar meaning, but 'yamu' focuses more on the state of being sick, while 'wazurau' focuses on the suffering/affliction.
Refers to the moment of infection or catching a disease, whereas 'wazurau' refers to the ongoing state.
관용어 및 표현
— 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— 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— 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— 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— 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)— Perfect health; being free from any illness or disaster.
家族の無病息災を祈る。
Yojijukugo— 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— 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— 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— 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。
General혼동하기 쉬운
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).
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).
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).
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。
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。
문장 패턴
[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。
어휘 가족
명사
동사
형용사
관련
사용법
Common in medical, journalistic, and literary contexts; rare in casual daily chat.
-
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.
팁
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).
암기하기
기억법
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.
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Try to write three sentences describing a historical figure's health using 'wazurau' in the past tense.
어원
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.
원래 의미: To be in a state of distress or trouble.
Japonic문화적 맥락
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.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
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。
대화 시작하기
"「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?」"
일기 주제
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。
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Technically 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.
셀프 테스트 180 질문
Translate to Japanese: 'He is suffering from a heart condition.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Japanese: 'My grandmother suffered from an illness for a long time.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Create a sentence using 'koi-wazurau'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Japanese: 'The patient is in the hospital.'
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Translate to Japanese: 'I agonized over my future career.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Japanese: 'He has suffered from asthma since childhood.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Japanese: 'Please do not suffer alone.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate to Japanese: 'He suffered from a serious illness last year.'
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Translate to Japanese: 'She has a chronic illness.'
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Write the kanji for 'wazurau'.
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Translate: 'A story about a man suffering from an incurable disease.'
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Translate: 'He is currently suffering from cancer.'
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Translate: 'The affected part is red.'
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Translate: 'He suffered from lung trouble.'
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Translate: 'Don't worry too much.' (using wazurau)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Many people suffered from the epidemic.'
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Translate: 'He suffered from liver disease in his later years.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'He is lovesick for his classmate.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'She is suffering from a mental ailment.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I heard he has a bad back.' (using wazurau)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Describe a chronic illness someone might have using 'wazurau'.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Tell a short story about someone who is lovesick.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Explain the difference between 'kaze' and 'wazurau'.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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How would you tell a doctor your grandfather has heart trouble?
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Use 'omoi-wazurau' in a sentence about work.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Ask a friend if they have any chronic ailments (politely).
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Talk about a famous person who was sick.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Give advice to someone who is worrying too much.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Describe what a 'kanja' is in Japanese.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Say 'He has been suffering since childhood.'
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Use 'wazurau' in the past tense about a historical figure.
Read this aloud:
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Describe a scene in a hospital using 'kanbu'.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Express empathy for someone with a long-term illness.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Say 'I don't want to suffer from a serious disease.'
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Describe the kanji '患' to someone.
Read this aloud:
당신의 답변:
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Listen and identify the verb: 'Kare wa gan wo wazuratte-iru.'
Listen and identify the object: 'Hai wo wazurau.'
Is the speaker talking about a cold or something serious? 'Nagaku yamai wo wazuratta.'
Who is sick? 'Kanja ga kyuuzou shite-iru.'
What is the condition? 'Koi-wazurai desu.'
True or False: The person is recovered. 'Mada wazuratte-imasu.'
Listen for the duration: 'Juunen mo wazuratta.'
Listen for the body part: 'Koshi wo wazurau.'
Listen for the emotion: 'Omoi-wazurau.'
Listen for the medical term: 'Shikkan wo wazurau.'
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The verb 患う (wazurau) is the go-to word for describing a serious or long-term health battle. Example: 祖父は癌を患っています (My grandfather is suffering from cancer). Use it to show the gravity of an illness.
- 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.
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'.
예시
彼は重い病気を患っている。
관련 콘텐츠
health 관련 단어
しばらく
B1잠시, 잠깐, 한동안.
異変がある
B1이상한 변화나 이상이 있음. 정상이 아니거나 잘못된 것이 있음. (비정상적인 상황이 발생함.)
異常な
B1비정상적인; 이상한. 정상적인 상태에서 크게 벗어난 것을 나타냅니다.
擦り傷
B1피부 표면이 긁혀서 생긴 상처. 넘어지거나 거친 표면에 스쳤을 때 생기는 가벼운 상처.
吸収する
B1스펀지가 물을 흡수한다.
禁酒
B1금주. '건강을 위해 금주를 시작했습니다.'
痛む
A2to hurt; to ache
鍼灸
B1침구는 침과 뜸을 사용하여 신체의 질병을 치료하는 전통 의학입니다.
急性的
B1질병이나 상태가 갑자기 나타나고 진행이 빠른 상태. 만성적의 반대말.
急性な
B1Acute