Japanese word

病む

Pronunciation

Romajiyamu

Meaning

  • verbfall ill

Example

無理をすると、体を病みます。mu ri o su ru to karada o ya mi ma su

If you overwork yourself, you will fall ill.

Illustration for 病む (fall ill)

More examples

大きな環境の変化で、彼女は心を病みました。ō ki na kan kyō no hen ka de kano jo wa kokoro o ya mi ma shi ta

She became mentally ill because of a major change in her environment.

Core concept

Describes a person or body becoming unwell through illness or strain.

Common phrases

  • 身を病むmi o ya mu

    fall ill

  • 心を病むkokoro o ya mu

    suffer mentally

Similar words

患うwazurau: To suffer from a disease or a lasting health problem.
罹るkakaru: To contract or be affected by a specific disease.
苦しむkurushimu: To experience ongoing physical or mental pain or distress.
病気になるbyōkininaru: To develop an illness and become physically unwell.

Definition in Japanese

病気になり、体の具合が悪くなる。byō ki ni na ri karada no gu ai ga waru ku na ru

Word origin

病む (yamu) is a native Japanese simple verb whose basic sense is becoming ill; its written form uses 病 (byō, "illness") as a meaning-based kanji.

Usage tips

  • In modern Japanese, 病む (yamu) can describe mental suffering in 心を病む (kokoro o yamu), whereas 病気になる (byōki ni naru) is more common for simply falling ill.

Opposites

Word lists with this word