feel fine/well

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diamondcutter

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Oct 21, 2014
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Chinese
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I don’t feel very good, Miss Daisy,” I said.
“What’s the matter, A.J.?” she asked.
“Do you have a tummy ache? A headache?”
I really felt fine. I just didn’t want to go to Fizz Ed. But I didn’t want to say that to Miss Daisy. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I had to think fast.

Source: Miss Small Is off the Wall, Dan Gutman

In the context above, is there any difference between “I really felt fine” and “I really felt well”?
 
Fine means OK. Well is stronger IMO.
 
I'm just going by experience, but I would say that in American English we're more likely to use "well" in a sentence like "I don't feel well". (We don't say " I don't feel fine".) In short, there is a difference.
 
I might use "I don't feel fine" if I was negating something someone else said.

Me: I'm not going to Helen's party tonight. I don't feel well.
Paul: Oh! Are you ill? You look fine.
Me: Well, I don't feel fine! I feel awful.
Paul: Sorry to hear that. Do you want me to stay at home with you?
Me: No, it's fine. Go to the party. Have a great time!
 
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