How to say "sensation" in Japanese

• 気持ちきもちJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe all-purpose word for how one feels, covering both emotions and physical sensations; when you are unsure which word a sensation calls for, this is the safe default.
• 気味きみJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA feeling or sensation, but you will mostly meet it inside set expressions rather than as an independent word; for 'sensation' in general, 気持ち or 感覚 is the word you want.
  その事件じけんには何なんとなく気味きみの悪わるいところがあった。↗

  There was something weird about the incident.
• 感覚かんかくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbSensation in its physical, sensory sense — what you feel with the body or perceive through the senses; it also extends to a general sense or intuition about things.
  私は指ゆびに感覚かんかくが無なかった。↗

  I had no feeling in my fingers.
• 心地ここちJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The feeling of physical comfort or discomfort — how agreeable conditions are; it is about bodily ease and the 'feel' of things, not about emotions such as joy or sorrow.
  くつろげば、自信じしんに満みちて心地ここちもよくなります。↗

  If you are at ease, you are feeling confident and comfortable.
• 心持ちこころもちCommon
  nounChiefly a mood or state of mind — how one feels emotionally; its 'sensation' sense is an inner feeling rather than a bodily one, so for physical sensations prefer 感覚 or 気持ち.

For physical, sensory 'sensation' choose 感覚; for how you feel, bodily or emotional, 「気持ち」; for comfort or discomfort 心地; for mood 「心持ち」; 気味 appears chiefly in set expressions.

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

• 気持ちきもちfeeling
• 気味きみsensation
• 感覚かんかくsense
• 心地ここちfeeling
• 心持ちこころもちfeeling
• 知覚ちかくperception
• センセーションsensation
• 気配けはいindication
• 感触かんしょくfeel (of something)
• 感かんfeeling
• 大評判だいひょうばんsensation
• 大反響だいはんきょうmassive response
• 旋風せんぷうsensation
• 反響はんきょうresponse
• あたりsensation