How to say "nerves" in Japanese

• 癇かん
  nounGlossed 'temper; nerves', this word really denotes temper or irritability rather than the body's nerves; it is less common, and 神経 is the word you normally want for 'nerves'.
  トムの話し方はなしかたは私の癇かんにさわる。↗

  Tom's way of speaking gets on my nerves.
• 神経しんけいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe common word for nerves, covering both the physical nerves of the body and, figuratively, sensitivity or nervousness; for frayed nerves or nervous strain, this is the usual choice.
  必かならずしも成長せいちょう段階だんかいの子供こどもたちを、あまり細こまかい神経しんけいをつかって扱あつかうべきでない。↗

  Growing children should not always be handled with kid gloves.
• 疳かん
  nounA homophone of 癇 sharing the 'temper; nerves' gloss, it likewise means temper or irritability rather than physical nerves; it is less common, and is especially associated with small children's temper or nervousness.

For nerves in any ordinary sense — the body's nerves, or frayed, sensitive ones — 神経 is the common choice; 癇 and 疳 are less common words for temper or irritability, not physical nerves.

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

• 癇かんtemper
• 神経しんけいnerves
• 疳かんtemper