Gastrointestinal

Basic symptoms

お腹が痛いです。
おなかがいたいです。
I have a stomachache.
The most basic phrase — the doctor will want to know the exact location, nature, and duration of the pain.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related吐き気・嘔吐（nausea/vomiting）みぞおちの痛み（epigastric pain）
吐き気があります。嘔吐しました。
はきけがあります。おうとしました。
I feel nauseous / I've vomited.
The number of times you've vomited, whether there's blood, and what the vomit looks like are all things the doctor cares about.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Relatedお腹が痛い（abdominal pain）

By symptom type

お腹が張っています。
おなかがはっています。
My stomach feels bloated.
A common phrase for indigestion and constipation.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related食欲がない（loss of appetite）
胸焼けがします。
むねやけがします。
I have heartburn / acid reflux.
A common symptom of acid reflux.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
下痢をしています。
げりをしています。
I have diarrhea.
Telling the doctor the frequency, whether it's watery, and whether there's a fever will help them identify the cause faster.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related水様便（watery stool）血便・粘液便（bloody/mucus stool）
水のような下痢です。
みずのようなげりです。
My diarrhea is watery, like water.
Common with acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning — dehydration is a risk, so remember to stay hydrated.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related我慢できないほどの激しい腹痛が続く（unbearable persistent abdominal pain）
便秘しています。
べんぴしています。
I'm constipated.
It helps to also mention how many days it's lasted and whether there's abdominal pain or bloating.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Relatedお腹が張る（bloating）
お腹が差し込むように痛みます。
おなかがさしこむようにいたみます。
I have cramping, sharp abdominal pain.
Cramping pain that comes in waves and a constant dull ache are two different things — the doctor will use this to help narrow down the cause.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Relatedお腹が痛い（abdominal pain）
食欲がありません。
しょくよくがありません。
I have no appetite.
How long it's lasted and whether it's accompanied by weight loss are important pieces of information.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
げっぷがよく出ます。
げっぷがよくでます。
I've been burping a lot.
A common presentation of indigestion.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related胸焼け（heartburn）
みぞおちのあたりが痛みます。
みぞおちのあたりがいたみます。
I have pain in my upper stomach/epigastric area.
A common location for gastritis and stomach ulcers, but it's also where appendicitis often starts — the doctor will ask whether it has shifted to the lower right abdomen to help distinguish.
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Relatedみぞおちの痛みが右下腹部に移動する（epigastric pain shifting to lower right abdomen）

Warning signs

便に血が混じっています。
べんにちがまじっています。
I have blood in my stool.
Seek medical care promptly to identify the cause — note whether the blood is bright red or black/tarry, and mention either to the doctor.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related下痢（diarrhea）
我慢できないほどお腹が痛くて、ずっと続いています。
がまんできないほどおなかがいたくて、ずっとつづいています。
Severe, unbearable abdominal pain that won't go away.
Severe abdominal pain lasting more than 6 hours needs immediate medical care — don't try to tough it out.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Relatedお腹が痛い（abdominal pain）
最初はみぞおちが痛かったのですが、今は右下腹部が痛みます。歩くと響きます。
さいしょはみぞおちがいたかったのですが、いまはみぎしたふくぶがいたみます。あるくとひびきます。
The pain started near my stomach but has moved and settled in my lower right abdomen — it hurts more when I walk or cough.
The classic pattern of migrating pain in acute appendicitis — easy to mistake for an ordinary stomachache and delay care. If pain migrates and settles in the lower right abdomen, seek medical care promptly.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)GI Surgery (referred here if surgery is needed)
Relatedみぞおちの痛み（epigastric pain）お腹を押して離すと強く痛む（rebound tenderness (pain on release of pressure)）
お腹を押すと痛くて、手を離すともっと痛みます。
おなかをおすといたくて、てをはなすともっといたみます。
It hurts when I press my stomach, but hurts more when I release.
Medically called 'rebound tenderness' — an important sign of peritoneal inflammation. If you notice this, seek medical care promptly.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)GI Surgery (referred here if surgery is needed)
Relatedみぞおちの痛みが右下腹部に移動する（epigastric pain shifting to lower right abdomen）
38度以上の熱があって、お腹の痛みと下痢もあります。
さんじゅうはちどいじょうのねつがあって、おなかのいたみとげりもあります。
Fever of 38°C or higher along with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Infectious gastroenteritis, appendicitis, and other conditions can come with a high fever — seek medical care promptly.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)Emergency / Call ambulance (119)
Related下痢（diarrhea）みぞおちの痛みが右下腹部に移動する（epigastric pain shifting to lower right abdomen）
口がとても渇いて、尿の量が減って、めまいがします。
くちがとてもかわいて、にょうのりょうがへって、めまいがします。
Signs of dehydration: very thirsty, less urine, dizzy.
Often occurs after severe vomiting or diarrhea — children and the elderly especially need extra care and prompt rehydration treatment.
⚠️ Worth paying attention to
Suggested Department
Emergency / Call ambulance (119)Gastroenterology (stomach/intestines/liver, incl. endoscopy)
Related下痢（diarrhea）水様便（watery stool）
Gastrointestinal Symptoms | Symptom Dictionary Japanese phrases for Gastrointestinal symptoms, with example sentences and audio.
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