你哪里不舒服？
nǐ nǎlǐ bù shūfu?
What hurts you?
How to say "I have a temperature" in Chinese
我发烧了。
wǒ fāshāo le
I have a temperature
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is 我 (I) + 发烧 (have a fever) + 了 (change of state). 了 shows that the fever has started.
Variations and politeness
我有点发烧
wǒ yǒudiǎn fāshāo
I have a slight fever. — More casual and less precise than the original.
我发冷了
wǒ fālěng le
I feel cold. — Indicates feeling cold, not necessarily having a fever.
Mini dialogue
A
你好，我发烧了。
nǐ hǎo, wǒ fāshāo le.
Hello, I have a fever.
B
你感觉怎么样？
nǐ gǎnjué zěnme yàng?
How do you feel?
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you are at a doctor's office or pharmacy and need to report that you have a fever.
- When you want to clearly state that your body temperature is elevated due to illness.
Avoid when
- Do not say '我有温度' (wǒ yǒu wēndù) to mean 'I have a temperature'; it is not idiomatic and will not be understood as having a fever.
- Do not use this phrase if you are just feeling hot due to weather or exercise; it specifically refers to having a fever.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I have a fever' in Chinese?
You say '我发烧了' (wǒ fāshāo le). This is the standard way to report having a fever.
How do you pronounce '我发烧了'?
It is pronounced 'wǒ fāshāo le'. The tones are: wǒ (3rd tone), fā (1st tone), shāo (1st tone), le (neutral).
When do you use '我发烧了'?
Use it when you need to tell someone, especially medical staff, that you have a fever. The 了 indicates that the fever has started.
More phrases for this situation
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