How to say "sentimental" in Japanese

• センチメンタルCommon
  na-adjective, nounThe direct loanword and the closest match for 'sentimental': a wistful, tender, faintly sad mood, as in nostalgic memories, songs, or a person easily moved by such feelings.
  花火はなびの弾ひける音おとが止やむと、急きゅうに辺あたりが静しずかになる。後あとに残のこった火薬かやくの匂においが、なんだか俺おれをセンチメンタルな気分きぶんにさせた。↗

  As the popping sound of the fireworks stopped, it suddenly became quiet around me. The smell of gunpowder somehow put me in a sentimental mood.
• 感傷的かんしょうてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers sentimentality with a critical edge: being carried away by feelings, or writing, films, and remarks that strike others as maudlin or mawkish rather than touchingly nostalgic.
• 感情的かんじょうてきCommon
  na-adjectivePrimarily means 'emotional' — governed by or quick to show feelings, often in contrast with calm reason. For the wistful sense of 'sentimental' it is seldom the word you want.
  彼かれらは我々われわれよりも感情的かんじょうてきだ。↗

  They are more emotional than we.
• 多感たかんCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes a person, especially the young, at a sensitive, impressionable stage when feelings run high. It points to susceptibility to emotion, so it fits 'impressionable' better than 'sentimental'.
• ウェットCommon
  na-adjectiveThe loanword 'wet' used figuratively for a soft-hearted, tender-hearted, sentimental disposition or mood, where warmth and feeling matter more than cool, matter-of-fact detachment.

Use 「センチメンタル」 for wistful, nostalgic sentimentality, 感傷的 for excessive or mawkish emotion, 「ウェット」 for soft-hearted warmth, and reserve 感情的 and 多感 for 'emotional' and 'impressionable' rather than 'sentimental'.

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

• センチメンタルsentimental
• 感傷的かんしょうてきsentimental
• 感情的かんじょうてきemotional
• 多感たかんsensitive
• 甘ったるいあまったるいsentimental
• 多情多感たじょうたかんsentimental
• 心情的しんじょうてきsentimental
• おセンチsentimental
• 甘たるいあまたるいsentimental
• 情にもろいじょうにもろいsoft-hearted
• 情緒的じょうちょてきemotional
• センチsentimental
• ウェットsoft-hearted
• もろいtender-hearted
• 多情たじょうemotional