How to say "psychological" in Japanese

• 心理的しんりてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe default choice for the ordinary sense of 'psychological': relating to the mind or mental processes rather than the body. In general prose, this is the word to reach for.
  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.
• サイコロジカル
  nounA katakana loanword meaning 'psychological'. Less common than 心理的, it is seldom the word you want in ordinary writing; it may fit where a loanword feels natural.
• 心理学的しんりがくてき
  na-adjectiveThe 'psychological' of psychology as a discipline: use it when the meaning is 'relating to the study of the mind', not the everyday mental sense; for that, 心理的 is usual.
  このセラピーにおいて心理学しんりがく的てき準備じゅんびが重要じゅうようだということは正ただしい。↗

  It is correct to say that psychological readiness is important in this therapy.
• 心的しんてき
  na-adjectiveA less common near-equivalent of 心理的, also glossed 'mental'. For the ordinary sense of 'psychological' it is seldom the word you want; reach for 心理的 instead.

Choose 心理的 for the ordinary sense 'relating to the mind'; 心理学的 when 'psychological' means 'relating to psychology as a discipline'; 「サイコロジカル」 and 心的 are less common and seldom needed.

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

• 心理的しんりてきpsychological
• サイコロジカルpsychological
• 心理学的しんりがくてきpsychological
• 心的しんてきmental