How to say "inner" in Japanese

• 内的ないてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe common choice for 'inner' as a mental or intrinsic quality — something of the mind or inherent in a person or thing, including inherited traits, rather than external.
  デネットの著作ちょさくの中心ちゅうしん的てき主張しゅちょうは、端的たんてきに言いえば、内的ないてき精神せいしん状態じょうたいの存在そんざいを否定ひていするということである。↗

  The main point of Dennett's book, in short, is to deny the existence of inner mental states.
• インナー
  prenominal modifierA katakana loanword. It is seldom the word you want for ordinary adjective uses of 'inner'; leave it for the limited contexts where Japanese has borrowed the English term.
• 内面的ないめんてき
  na-adjectiveCovers 'inner' in the sense of a person's inner life or character — feelings, personality, what is inside rather than outwardly visible. A natural choice when contrasting inner and outer qualities.
• 内なるうちなる
  pre-noun adjectivalGoes before nouns such as self, voice, man, conflict, tension, or competition; for phrases like 'inner voice' or 'inner conflict', this is the word to reach for.

Use 内的 for mental or intrinsic senses of 'inner', 内面的 for a person's inner character or life, 「内なる」 in phrases like inner voice or inner conflict, and 「インナー」 only where Japanese borrows the English word.

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

• 内的ないてきinner
• インナーinner
• 内面的ないめんてきinner
• 内なるうちなるinner (self, voice, man, etc.)