How to say "mental" in Japanese

• メンタルCommon
  na-adjectiveThe katakana loanword, used chiefly about a person's mental state or resilience — how strongly one holds up under stress, as in sport or work.
• 精神的せいしんてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe common adjective for 'mental' as opposed to physical: mental fatigue, stress, or pressure. It also extends to spiritual and emotional matters.
  彼かれの病気びょうきは主おもに精神的せいしんてきな物ものだった。↗

  His illness was mainly psychological.
• 内的ないてきCommon
  na-adjectiveReally means 'inner' or 'intrinsic' — the inner world or inner life of a person — so it is seldom the word you want for plain 'mental'.
  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.
• 心理的しんりてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'mental' in the sense of 'psychological' — mental processes, perception, and psychological pressure or effects — the natural choice where English says 'psychological'.
  いやだと言いうことは彼女かのじょにとって心理的しんりてきに難むずかしい。↗

  It is psychologically difficult for her to say no.

Use 「メンタル」 for one's mental state or toughness, 精神的 for mental as opposed to physical, 心理的 when English says 'psychological', and 内的 only for 'inner', seldom for plain 'mental'.

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

• メンタルmental
• 精神的せいしんてきmental
• 内的ないてきinner
• 心理的しんりてきpsychological
• 心的しんてきmental
• 脳内のうない(occurring) in the mind