Understanding 病気 (びょうき)
The word 病気 means "illness" or "disease" and is commonly used in everyday conversation to talk about being sick or health conditions. It is a noun and can refer to both minor and serious illnesses.
Common Usage
You will often hear 病気 used to explain why someone is absent or unable to do something, such as in "病気で学校を休む" (to be absent from school due to illness). It is also used when advising someone to seek medical help, e.g., "病気になったら医者に行く".
Collocations and Patterns
- 病気になる: to become ill
- 病気で休む: to take a break due to illness
- 病気を治す: to cure an illness
- 病気の友達: a sick friend
These collocations are very common and useful for daily conversation.
Register and Politeness
病気 is neutral and appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. When speaking politely, it is often combined with polite verbs or expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 病気 with 風邪 (cold). 病気 is a broader term that includes all illnesses, while 風邪 specifically means a cold. Use 病気 when referring to general sickness or serious conditions.