When you feel under the weather with a runny nose or a sore throat, you likely have 風邪 (kaze), which means "a cold" or "flu." This common noun refers to those annoying sniffles and coughs we all get sometimes. If you want to say you "caught a cold," you can use the phrase 風邪をひく (kaze o hiku). It's a very practical word to know, especially when talking about your health or asking someone if they're feeling okay.
When you're learning Japanese at an A2 level, understanding common words like 「風邪」(かぜ) is really useful. This word means "a cold," like the one you catch in winter. You'll hear it a lot in everyday conversations, especially when talking about health. Knowing this word helps you understand and express simple ideas about feeling unwell. It's a foundational term for discussing sickness or general health with Japanese speakers.
When talking about illnesses in Japanese, you'll often encounter the word 風邪 (かぜ - kaze), which means 'a cold.' This isn't just about feeling a bit sniffly; it encompasses the common cold with symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.
You might hear someone say 風邪をひきました (kaze o hikimashita), which literally means 'I caught a cold.' It's a very natural way to express that you're sick with a cold. Understanding this phrase is key to talking about your health or asking others about theirs.
When discussing your health in Japanese, 風邪 (kaze) is the standard term for a common cold. You'll often hear phrases like 風邪をひきました (kaze o hikimashita), meaning 'I caught a cold.' It's also used in combination with other words, such as 風邪薬 (kazegusuri) for 'cold medicine.' While there are more specific medical terms for various cold symptoms, 風邪 is the general and most commonly used word in everyday conversation. Remember that expressing concern for someone with a cold, like お大事に (odaiji ni), meaning 'Take care,' is also very common.
風邪 30秒了解
- 風邪 (kaze) means 'cold' (the illness).
- It's a common word, useful for everyday situations.
- Often used when talking about feeling unwell.
§ Understanding 風邪 (kaze)
The Japanese word for 'cold' is 風邪 (かぜ - kaze). It's a very common word, and you'll hear and use it a lot. It specifically refers to the common cold, not the weather phenomenon 'wind' which is also pronounced かぜ (kaze) but written differently (風). Context will always make it clear which one is being discussed.
- Japanese Word
- 風邪 (かぜ)
- Meaning
- A common viral infection of the nose and throat; a cold.
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ How to say you have a cold
The most straightforward way to say you have a cold in Japanese is to use 風邪 (kaze) with the verb ひく (hiku), which means 'to catch' or 'to pull'. When combined, 風邪をひく (kaze o hiku) means 'to catch a cold'.
昨日、風邪をひきました。
Yesterday, I caught a cold. (Kinō, kaze o hikimashita.)
風邪をひかないように気をつけてください。
Please be careful not to catch a cold. (Kaze o hikanai yō ni ki o tsukete kudasai.)
§ Describing your condition
You can also use 風邪 (kaze) with です (desu) or だ (da) to state that you 'have a cold' as a condition. This is usually preceded by symptoms or used to explain why you aren't feeling well.
少し熱があります。風邪です。
I have a slight fever. It's a cold. (Sukoshi netsu ga arimasu. Kaze desu.)
風邪で会社を休みました。
I took a day off work because of a cold. (Kaze de kaisha o yasumimashita.)
§ Discussing cold symptoms
You can combine 風邪 (kaze) with symptoms to describe what kind of cold you have or what symptoms you're experiencing.
- 風邪の症状 (kaze no shōjō) - cold symptoms
- 風邪薬 (kazegusuri) - cold medicine
風邪の症状はどんな感じですか？
What are your cold symptoms like? (Kaze no shōjō wa donna kanji desu ka?)
風邪薬を飲んでください。
Please take cold medicine. (Kazegusuri o nonde kudasai.)
§ Common phrases with 風邪 (kaze)
Here are some common phrases using 風邪 (kaze) that you'll find useful:
- 風邪が治る (kaze ga naoru) - for a cold to get better/be cured
- 風邪をうつす (kaze o utsusu) - to pass a cold on (to someone)
- 風邪をひいている (kaze o hiite iru) - to have a cold (present continuous)
- 風邪気味 (kazegimi) - feeling a bit under the weather / like you're catching a cold
風邪がなかなか治らない。
My cold isn't getting better easily. (Kaze ga nakanaka naoranai.)
彼に風邪をうつしてしまった。
I accidentally gave him my cold. (Kare ni kaze o utsushite shimatta.)
今、風邪をひいています。
I have a cold right now. (Ima, kaze o hiite imasu.)
なんか風邪気味だ。
I feel like I'm coming down with something. (Nanka kazegimi da.)
Mastering 風邪 (kaze) and its related phrases will help you clearly communicate about your health and understand others in daily Japanese conversations. Keep practicing these sentence patterns, and you'll be using them naturally in no time!
§ Don't confuse 風邪 (kaze) with other illnesses
Many English speakers learning Japanese sometimes use 風邪 (kaze) too broadly. While it means 'a cold,' it's not a catch-all term for any sickness. You wouldn't use it for the flu, for example, which is インフルエンザ (infuruenza).
§ Using the correct verbs with 風邪 (kaze)
Japanese has specific verbs that pair naturally with 風邪 (kaze). The most common one is ひく (hiku), meaning 'to catch' or 'to contract' a cold.
昨日、風邪をひきました。
*Hint: Yesterday, I caught a cold.*
You might also hear が治る (ga naoru) for 'a cold gets better' or 'recovers from a cold,' and が悪化する (ga akka suru) for 'a cold gets worse.'
風邪がなかなか治りません。
*Hint: My cold isn't getting better easily.*
§ Expressing 'having a cold'
While you use ひく (hiku) to say you 'caught' a cold, to express that you 'have' a cold right now, you usually use the -ている (-te iru) form of ひく (hiku), which is ひいている (hiite iru), or simply just say 風邪です (kaze desu) or 風邪をひいています (kaze o hiite imasu).
すみません、風邪をひいています。
*Hint: Excuse me, I have a cold.*
§ Common phrases and particles
Pay attention to the particles used with 風邪 (kaze). For example, to say you 'caught a cold' you use the direct object particle を (o) with ひく (hiku).
- Common Error
- Using が (ga) instead of を (o) with ひく (hiku) when describing catching a cold. For instance, 風邪がひきました (kaze ga hikimashita) is incorrect.
§ Related words and their usage
While 風邪 (kaze) refers to the cold itself, there are other terms you'll need for related symptoms:
- 咳 (seki): Cough
- 鼻水 (hanamizu): Runny nose
- 熱 (netsu): Fever
- のどが痛い (nodo ga itai): Sore throat
風邪で咳が出ます。
*Hint: I'm coughing due to a cold.*
Using these words correctly will make your Japanese sound much more natural and help you communicate your symptoms accurately.
难度评级
This kanji is very common and usually appears in its basic form. The reading is straightforward once learned.
Both kanji are relatively simple and frequently used, making them easier to recall and write.
The pronunciation is straightforward: 'kaze.' No tricky sounds for English speakers.
The word is distinct and doesn't easily get confused with other common words in casual conversation.
接下来学什么
前置知识
接下来学习
高级
按水平分级的例句
風邪をひいたので、今日は会社を休みます。
I caught a cold, so I'm taking the day off from work today.
「風邪をひく」 (kaze o hiku) is a common phrase meaning 'to catch a cold'.
今年の冬は風邪が流行しているので、気をつけてください。
Colds are going around this winter, so please be careful.
「流行する」 (ryuukou suru) means 'to be prevalent' or 'to spread'.
熱があるし、喉も痛いし、完全に風邪だと思います。
I have a fever and a sore throat, so I think it's definitely a cold.
「〜し、〜し」 (shi, shi) is used to list reasons or conditions.
風邪薬を飲んだら、少し楽になりました。
After taking cold medicine, I felt a little better.
「〜たら」 (tara) is a conditional conjunction meaning 'if/when'.
早く風邪が治るように、たくさん寝てください。
Please get lots of sleep so your cold gets better quickly.
「〜ように」 (you ni) indicates a purpose or hope.
彼は風邪で声が出ないようです。
It seems he can't speak because of a cold.
「〜ようです」 (you desu) indicates something seems to be the case.
子供が風邪をひいて、学校を休んでいます。
My child has a cold and is absent from school.
「休む」 (yasumu) means 'to rest' or 'to be absent'.
風邪予防のために、手洗いうがいを心がけています。
I make an effort to wash my hands and gargle to prevent colds.
「心がける」 (kokorogakeru) means 'to keep in mind' or 'to make an effort'.
今年の冬は風邪をひかないように、毎日手洗いうがいを徹底しています。
This winter, to avoid catching a cold, I am thoroughly washing my hands and gargling every day.
〜ように (yō ni): in order to; so that. 徹底する (tettei suru): to thoroughly implement.
風邪気味なので、今日は早めに帰ってゆっくり休みたいと思います。
I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so I'd like to go home early today and rest slowly.
〜気味 (gimi): indicates 'a little bit' or 'a tendency to'.
彼が風邪で寝込んでいる間、代わりに私が会議に出席しました。
While he was laid up with a cold, I attended the meeting in his place.
〜間 (aida): while; during. 〜代わりに (kawari ni): in place of; instead of.
季節の変わり目は体調を崩しやすく、風邪を引きやすいので注意が必要です。
During season changes, it's easy to get sick and catch a cold, so caution is necessary.
〜やすい (yasui): easy to do. 注意が必要 (chūi ga hitsuyō): caution is necessary.
風邪の予防には、バランスの取れた食事と十分な睡眠が不可欠です。
For cold prevention, a balanced diet and sufficient sleep are indispensable.
〜には (ni wa): for; in order to. 不可欠 (fukaketsu): indispensable; essential.
彼女は風邪をひいて高熱が出たが、薬を飲んでなんとか乗り切った。
She caught a cold and had a high fever, but she managed to get through it by taking medicine.
なんとか (nantoka): somehow; by hook or by crook. 乗り切る (norikiru): to get through; to tide over.
子供たちが風邪を移し合わないように、手洗いや消毒をこまめに行っています。
To prevent the children from passing colds to each other, I frequently wash hands and disinfect.
〜移し合う (utsushiau): to pass (a disease) to each other. こまめに (komame ni): frequently; regularly.
今回の風邪はしつこくて、なかなか治らないので困っています。
This cold is persistent and isn't getting better easily, so I'm troubled.
しつこい (shitsukoi): persistent; tenacious. なかなか〜ない (nakanaka〜nai): not easily; not readily.
小贴士
Learn the Kanji for 'kaze'
The kanji for 風邪 is 風 (wind) and 邪 (evil/bad). While this literally means 'wind evil', it's a helpful way to remember the word for common cold.
Practice pronunciation: 'kaze'
The 'ka' in 風邪 is pronounced like the 'ca' in car, and 'ze' is like 'ze' in zebra. Don't pronounce it like the English word 'kaze'.
Use with 'hiku' (to catch)
To say 'to catch a cold' in Japanese, you typically use 風邪をひく (kaze o hiku). 'Hiku' means 'to pull' or 'to catch', so it's like pulling a cold.
Remember related phrases
Some common phrases include: 風邪をひきました (kaze o hikimashita - I caught a cold), 風邪薬 (kazegusuri - cold medicine), and 風邪気味 (kazegimi - feeling a bit under the weather).
Distinguish from 'influenza'
While 風邪 is a common cold, 'influenza' is often referred to as インフルエンザ (infuruenza) in Japanese, which is a direct loanword. Don't confuse the two for serious illness.
Listen for context in conversations
When someone mentions 風邪, they are usually talking about a mild cold. If it's more serious, they'll likely specify symptoms or use other words for illness.
Write it down repeatedly
Practice writing 風邪 and its hiragana ふうじゃ or かぜ. This helps with memorization and kanji recognition.
Use flashcards with example sentences
Create flashcards with sentences like '風邪ですか？' (Kaze desu ka? - Do you have a cold?) and '風邪を治してください' (Kaze o naoshite kudasai - Please get over your cold).
Japanese perception of colds
In Japan, wearing a mask when you have a cold is very common, not just to protect others but also to protect yourself from getting worse. It's a sign of social responsibility.
Don't confuse with 'kaze' (wind)
Be careful not to confuse 風邪 (kaze - cold) with 風 (kaze - wind). While they share the same reading, the kanji and context will help you distinguish. The word for wind has only one kanji.
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine a big gust of '風' (kaze - wind) blowing right up your '邪' (ja - evil/bad) nose and throat, giving you a cold.
视觉联想
Picture a strong, chilly wind (風) making someone shiver and look miserable, clutching their throat (邪) because they have a cold.
Word Web
挑战
Try to describe in Japanese how you feel when you have a cold. For example: '風邪をひきました。熱があります。' (Kaze o hikimashita. Netsu ga arimasu. - I caught a cold. I have a fever.) or '風邪で咳が出ます。' (Kaze de seki ga demasu. - I have a cough due to a cold.)
在生活中练习
真实语境
Talking about feeling unwell
- 風邪をひいたかもしれません。(I might have caught a cold.)
- ちょっと風邪気味です。(I'm feeling a bit like I'm catching a cold.)
- 風邪で喉が痛いです。(My throat hurts because of a cold.)
Asking someone if they are sick
- 風邪ですか？(Do you have a cold?)
- 風邪をひいていませんか？(Aren't you catching a cold?)
- 風邪に気をつけてください。(Please be careful not to catch a cold.)
Discussing cold symptoms
- 風邪の症状は何ですか？(What are your cold symptoms?)
- 風邪で熱があります。(I have a fever from a cold.)
- 風邪で鼻水が出ます。(I have a runny nose from a cold.)
Giving advice for a cold
- 風邪なら、ゆっくり休んでください。(If it's a cold, please rest well.)
- 風邪薬を飲みましたか？(Did you take cold medicine?)
- 風邪をひいたら、温かいものを飲んでください。(If you catch a cold, please drink something warm.)
Talking about preventing colds
- 風邪予防のために、手洗いをしています。(I'm washing my hands to prevent colds.)
- 風邪が流行っています。(Colds are going around.)
- 風邪をひかないように気をつけています。(I'm being careful not to catch a cold.)
对话开场白
"最近、風邪をひきましたか？(Have you caught a cold recently?)"
"風邪をひいたら、どんな症状が出ますか？(What kind of symptoms do you get when you catch a cold?)"
"風邪の予防のために、何かしていますか？(Are you doing anything to prevent colds?)"
"もし友達が風邪をひいたら、どうしますか？(What would you do if a friend caught a cold?)"
"風邪をひいた時に、一番つらいことは何ですか？(What's the hardest thing when you have a cold?)"
日记主题
風邪をひいた時のことを思い出して、その時の気持ちや状況を書いてみましょう。(Recall a time you caught a cold, and write about your feelings and the situation at that time.)
もし風邪をひいてしまったら、どのように一日を過ごしますか？(If you were to catch a cold, how would you spend your day?)
風邪の時に食べたいもの、飲みたいものを考えてみましょう。(Think about what you'd like to eat and drink when you have a cold.)
風邪をひかないために、どんなことに気をつけていますか？(What kind of things are you careful about so you don't catch a cold?)
風邪の時に、誰かに助けてもらった経験はありますか？その時のことを書いてみましょう。(Have you ever been helped by someone when you had a cold? Write about that experience.)
自我测试 24 个问题
Which of these might you catch during cold weather?
風邪 (kaze) means 'a cold', which is something you might catch.
If someone says '風邪をひきました' (kaze o hikimashita), what are they saying they did?
風邪をひく (kaze o hiku) is a common phrase meaning 'to catch a cold'.
What is the most likely symptom of 風邪 (kaze)?
Headaches are a common symptom of a cold.
風邪 (kaze) is usually a serious illness that requires hospitalization.
風邪 (kaze) is a common cold, which is generally not a serious illness.
You should rest if you have 風邪 (kaze).
Resting is generally recommended when you have a cold.
風邪 (kaze) can be cured by eating a lot of chocolate.
While chocolate might make you feel better, it does not cure a cold.
This sentence means 'I caught a cold and missed school.' The particles 'を' mark the direct object, and '引いて' is the te-form of '引く' (to catch).
This sentence means 'Cold symptoms vary from person to person.' 'の' indicates possession, 'は' marks the topic, and 'によって' means 'depending on'.
This sentence means 'The doctor told me to rest and get plenty of sleep.' '安静に して' is the te-form of '安静にする' (to rest), and 'ように' indicates a suggestion or request.
先週から___を引いてしまい、ずっと咳が止まりません。
「風邪を引く」は「to catch a cold」という慣用句です。
今年の冬は暖冬だったので、___を引く人が少なかった。
文脈から、冬に流行する一般的な病気である「風邪」が適切です。
大切な試験の前日に___を引いてしまい、焦ってしまった。
試験前に体調を崩す状況として、「風邪を引く」が最も一般的です。
医者に診てもらった結果、ただの___だと言われ、安心した。
「ただの〜だと言われ」という表現から、深刻ではない病気である「風邪」が適切です。
彼女はいつも体調管理に気を使っているのに、珍しく___を引いた。
「体調管理に気を使う」人が珍しくかかる一般的な病気として「風邪」が合致します。
___を引いて熱が出たので、今日は会社を休むことにしました。
熱が出る原因となる一般的な病気として「風邪」が適切です。
This sentence describes someone whose cold worsened and led to pneumonia. 'こじらせて' means 'to worsen' or 'to complicate'.
This sentence expresses the desire to go home early and rest due to feeling a bit under the weather. '風邪気味' means 'feeling a slight cold'.
This sentence warns that it's easy to catch a cold during seasonal changes, so caution is needed. 'ひきやすい' means 'easy to catch (a cold)'.
/ 24 correct
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Summary
風邪 (kaze) is the essential Japanese word for 'a cold' or 'common cold'.
- 風邪 (kaze) means 'cold' (the illness).
- It's a common word, useful for everyday situations.
- Often used when talking about feeling unwell.
Learn the Kanji for 'kaze'
The kanji for 風邪 is 風 (wind) and 邪 (evil/bad). While this literally means 'wind evil', it's a helpful way to remember the word for common cold.
Practice pronunciation: 'kaze'
The 'ka' in 風邪 is pronounced like the 'ca' in car, and 'ze' is like 'ze' in zebra. Don't pronounce it like the English word 'kaze'.
Use with 'hiku' (to catch)
To say 'to catch a cold' in Japanese, you typically use 風邪をひく (kaze o hiku). 'Hiku' means 'to pull' or 'to catch', so it's like pulling a cold.
Remember related phrases
Some common phrases include: 風邪をひきました (kaze o hikimashita - I caught a cold), 風邪薬 (kazegusuri - cold medicine), and 風邪気味 (kazegimi - feeling a bit under the weather).
相关内容
更多health词汇
しばらく
B1For a while, for some time.
異変がある
B1To have an unusual change or abnormality.
異常な
B1Abnormal; unusual; irregular.
擦り傷
B1Scratch, graze, abrasion.
吸収する
B1To absorb.
禁酒
B1Abstinence from alcohol; the act of refraining from alcohol.
痛む
A2to hurt; to ache
鍼灸
B1Acupuncture and moxibustion; traditional Chinese medicine treatments.
急性的
B1Acute.
急性な
B1Acute
