How to say "mind" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 心こころnounCovers 'mind' as the inner seat of thought and feeling, where it overlaps heavily with 'heart'. Typical when speaking of what someone thinks or feels deep down, as in a calm or kind mind.
- 気きnounCovers 'mind' as a mental state — one's mood or spirits at a given moment. Typical in talk about how someone is feeling, as in an easygoing or uneasy state of mind.
- 心しんnounA different reading of the same character, glossed 'heart; mind; spirit; vitality'. It occurs chiefly within compounds and set phrases rather than alone, so it is seldom the standalone word for 'mind'.
- 精神せいしんnounCovers 'mind' as the mental or spiritual faculty — the mind as opposed to the body, or strength and attitude of mind. Typical in contexts such as mental health, mental effort, or strength of spirit.
- godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb 'to mind': to care about or be concerned about something, or to let it trouble you. Typically in negative or question forms, as in not minding or asking whether someone minds.
Use 心 for the mind as inner thought and feeling, 気 for mind as mood or mental state, 精神 for the mind as mental or spiritual faculty, 心（しん） chiefly in compounds, and 「かまう」 for the verb 'to mind'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 心こころmind
- 気きspirit
- 心しんheart
- 精神せいしんmind
- かまうto mind
- 魂たましいsoul
- マインドmind
- 意向いこうintention
- 心性しんせいmind
- 心頭しんとうheart
- 意思いしintention
- 心神しんしんmind
- 心意しんいmind
- 心事しんじmind
- 気にするきにするto mind (negative nuance)
- 意に介するいにかいするto mind
- 胸三寸むねさんずんheart
- 心するこころするto take care
- 心緒しんしょemotion
- 心すこころすto take care
- 念頭ねんとう(on one's) mind
- 気に留めるきにとめるto (keep in) mind
- 頭あたまmind
- 思いおもいimagination
- 脳のうbrains
- 介するかいするto worry
- 神気しんきspirits
- 介すかいすto worry
- 胸むねheart
- 懐ふところmind
See also
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