How to say "jealousy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 嫉妬しっとnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe general word for jealousy, and also envy: the feeling toward a rival in love or toward someone who has what you lack. This is the word to reach for when you simply mean 'jealousy'.
- nounEveryday, conversational jealousy, especially the romantic kind — feeling jealous over a partner or a love rival. It is usually written in kana alone rather than with kanji.
- nounThe loanword from English 'jealousy', heard mainly in casual conversation and typically about romantic jealousy; it has a lighter feel than 嫉妬.
- 猜疑さいぎnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReally 'suspicion': distrust of others and the anxious doubting that goes with it. Its 'jealousy' sense is jealousy tinged with that suspicion, so it is seldom the word for ordinary jealousy.
- 僻みひがみnounReally a warped, resentful attitude — bias, spite, or a twisted way of seeing things. Its 'jealousy' sense is begrudging resentment of others, so it rarely fits plain 'jealousy'.
Use 嫉妬 for jealousy or envy in general, 「やきもち」 or 「ジェラシー」 for everyday and romantic jealousy, while 猜疑 and 「僻み」 cover suspicious distrust and resentful spite rather than plain jealousy.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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