How to say "anxiety" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 不安ふあんnoun, na-adjectiveThe default word for anxiety as a feeling: unease or apprehension about the future or an uncertain situation, an emotional state rather than worry directed at one specific matter.
- 心配しんぱいnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, na-adjectiveWorry or concern about a particular person, matter, or outcome; when you would say you are worried about someone or something, this is the natural choice rather than the vaguer unease of 不安.その男の子は心配して病気になった。↗The boy got sick from anxiety.
- nounThis word is really fear — dread that something bad may happen; it is seldom the word you want for anxiety as a feeling, and it often implies harm is a real possibility.
- 懸念けねんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbWorry or concern about how a situation may develop; the word for voicing concern over risks and possible outcomes, rather than for describing one's own anxious feelings.
- 気がかりきがかりnoun, na-adjectiveWorry that stays on the mind: ongoing concern for someone's wellbeing or for a matter you cannot stop thinking about, a lingering weight rather than acute anxiety.
Choose 不安 for anxiety as a feeling of unease, 心配 for worry about a person or matter, 懸念 for concern over how a situation may develop, 「気がかり」 for worry that weighs on the mind, and 「おそれ」 mainly for fear.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 不安ふあんanxiety
- 心配しんぱいworry
- おそれfear
- 懸念けねんworry
- 気がかりきがかりworry
- 憂慮ゆうりょanxiety
- 心労しんろうanxiety
- 煩いわずらいworry
- 気苦労きぐろうworry
- 危惧きぐapprehension
- 後顧の憂いこうこのうれいanxiety (about the future)
- 物案じものあんじanxiety
- 憂虞ゆうぐanxiety
- 鬼胎きたいanxiety
- 物思いものおもいreverie
- 気骨きぼねworry
- 後顧こうこlooking back
- 不安心ふあんしんuneasiness
- 焦心しょうしんimpatience
- 苦くpain
- 苦労くろうanxiety
- 憂いうれいanxiety
- 憂えうれえanxiety
See also
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