How to say "fret" in Japanese

• くよくよCommon
  suru verbCovers 'fret (over)' as brooding or worrying: a mimetic word for dwelling on something anxiously and moping. Typical of someone who keeps fretting over a problem or a decision they cannot settle.
• 焦るあせるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbMatches 'fret' when the feeling is impatience: being in a hurry or anxious to get something done. Typical of someone fretting because things are not moving as fast as they would like.
  彼かれは新あたらしい仕事しごとを始はじめようとあせっていた。↗

  He was in a hurry to begin the new job.
• いらいらJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb, noun, adverb (with と), intransitive verbA mimetic word, usually written in kana, matching 'fret' as irritation: getting annoyed or on edge. Typical of someone who grows edgy and annoyed while a delay or a nuisance goes on.
  ビルは試験しけんのことでいらいらしている。↗

  Bill is nervous about the exam.

Use 「くよくよ」 for fretting that is worry or brooding, 「焦る」 for fretting that comes from impatience or hurry to get something done, and 「いらいら」 for fretting that shows as irritation or being on edge.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• くよくよto fret (over)
• 焦るあせるto be in a hurry
• いらいらto get irritated
• 柱じゅうfret (of a biwa)
• フレットfret
• むずかるto fret (esp. of a young child)
• 気を病むきをやむto fret
• 焦れるじれるto get impatient
• 気をもむきをもむto worry
• 気に病むきにやむto worry (about)
• 気で気を病むきできをやむto worry without reason
• 物思うものおもうto worry
• ぐずつくto fret
• 組子くみこmuntin