How to Say “I have a fever” in Chinese
Emergencies and health · HSK 3
"I have a fever" in Chinese is 我发烧了 (wǒ fā shāo le). 发烧 (fā shāo) literally means 'to develop heat' and works as a verb, not a noun; so you don't say 'I have a fever' with 有, you say 'I am fever-ing.' The 了 signals the new state.
Primary translation
我发烧了
wǒ fā shāo le
Traditional: 我發燒了
When to use it
发烧 (fā shāo) literally means 'to develop heat' and works as a verb, not a noun; so you don't say 'I have a fever' with 有, you say 'I am fever-ing.' The 了 signals the new state. Chinese hospitals have a dedicated 发热门诊 (fā rè mén zhěn, fever clinic), especially after 2020, and you'll often be directed there first before seeing a regular doctor. To give a specific temperature say 我发烧三十八度 (wǒ fā shāo sān shí bā dù, I have a fever of 38°C); Chinese uses Celsius. Normal body temperature is considered 36.5°C; anything over 37.3°C is 发烧.
Example sentences
我发烧了，可能得了感冒。
Wǒ fā shāo le, kě néng dé le gǎn mào.
I have a fever, I might have caught a cold.
昨天晚上开始发烧，到现在还没退。
Zuó tiān wǎn shang kāi shǐ fā shāo, dào xiàn zài hái méi tuì.
I started running a fever last night and it hasn't gone down yet.
孩子发烧三十九度，我们快去医院。
Hái zi fā shāo sān shí jiǔ dù, wǒ men kuài qù yī yuàn.
The child has a fever of 39 degrees, let's hurry to the hospital.