How to say "lonely" in Japanese

• 寂しいさびしいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe word you will usually want for the emotional sense of lonely: feeling sad because you are alone or miss someone. It can also describe a place as desolate.
  それで、彼女かのじょはとてもさびしく思おもっています。↗

  And she misses them very much.
• 寂然せきぜんCommon
  noun, taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Describes a scene, place or appearance as desolate and lonely rather than a person's feelings. For saying that you yourself feel lonely, this is seldom the word you want.
• 心細いこころぼそいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers the 'forlorn' sense of lonely: feeling anxious and helpless because you are alone or lack support, as when facing something by yourself. It is about insecurity rather than missing someone.
  彼かれが帰かえってきたのは、ホームシックにかかったからではなく、ふところが心細こころぼそくなったからである。↗

  He came back not because he was homesick, but because he was running short of money.

Choose 「寂しい」 for the feeling of loneliness or missing someone, 寂然 for desolate, lonely-looking scenes or places, and 「心細い」 for the forlorn, helpless feeling of lacking support.

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

• 寂しいさびしいlonely
• 寂然せきぜんlonely
• 心細いこころぼそいhelpless
• ロンリーlonely
• 物寂しいものさびしいlonely
• 寂寞せきばくlonely
• 寂寞じゃくまくlonely
• 心寂しいこころさびしいlonely
• 人里離れたひとざとはなれたlonely (place)
• 寥々りょうりょうlonely
• 蕭然しょうぜんlonely
• わびしいmiserable
• 蕭条しょうじょうdreary
• うら寂しいうらさびしいlonesome
• 蕭々しょうしょうdreary
• 悄愴しょうそうlonely