How to say "restless" in Japanese

• せっかちCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes a person's temperament: impatient and hasty, unable to stay still or wait calmly. This is the natural choice when 'restless' characterizes someone's personality rather than a situation.
  せっかちな運転者うんてんしゃが赤信号あかしんごうを無視むしして交差点こうさてんを通とおりぬけた。↗

  An impatient driver forced his way through the crossing against the red light.
• 不穏ふおんCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'restless' describing an uneasy, disquieting state of affairs rather than a person: turbulent conditions or a threatening, unsettled atmosphere. It is about situations, not about a person's character.
  軍部ぐんぶに不穏ふおんな動うごきが見みられる。↗

  There seem to be dangerous developments in the military.
• 忙しいいそがしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveReally means 'busy'; its 'restless' side shows in hurried, fidgety movement. For restlessness as such it is seldom the word you want — use it when the person is in fact rushed or busy.
• 騒々しいそうぞうしいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveReally means 'noisy'; its 'restless' sense covers turbulent, unsettled conditions marked by commotion. For other senses of 'restless' it is seldom the word you want.

Choose 「せっかち」 for an impatient, hasty person, 不穏 for an uneasy or turbulent atmosphere, and treat 「忙しい」 and 「騒々しい」 as really meaning 'busy' and 'noisy', only loosely covering 'restless'.

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

• せっかちhasty
• 不穏ふおんdisquieting
• せわしないrestless
• わさわさrestless
• そぞろrestless
• 気ぜわしいきぜわしいrestless
• 心忙しいこころぜわしいrestless
• 気が早いきがはやいhasty
• 気の早いきのはやいhasty
• 忙しいいそがしいrestless
• 騒々しいそうぞうしいturbulent
• せわしいrestless