How to say "strain" in Japanese

• 緊張きんちょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbMental or emotional strain: the tension and nervousness felt before an exam, interview, or performance. When 'strain' means psychological stress rather than physical effort, this is the word you want.
  「僕ぼく、飛行機ひこうきに乗のるのはこれが初はじめてなんだ。緊張きんちょうするよ」と博ばくがいいます。↗

  "This is my first flight. I'm nervous," says Hiroshi.
• 力むりきむCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbA verb for straining oneself physically: bearing down or exerting force, as when lifting something heavy. It can also suggest trying too hard, so it covers bodily effort rather than mental strain.
• 過労かろうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveA noun for strain caused by working too hard; it really means overwork itself, as in falling ill from overwork. Use it for the toll of excessive work, not general nervous tension.
  彼女かのじょは過労かろうでくたくたになっていた。↗

  She was worn out from overwork.
• 緊迫きんぱくCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbTension or strain in a situation rather than in a person's mind: a tense state of affairs, strained relations or atmosphere. It is not the word for personal nervousness.
  第だい３世界せかいの貧困ひんこん問題もんだいは緊迫きんぱくしている。↗

  The issue of Third World poverty is very pressing.
• 張り詰めるはりつめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA verb: nerves strained to the point of being on edge, or an atmosphere grown tense. Use it for the state of being stretched tight with tension, whether in oneself or in the air.

Use 緊張 for mental tension or nervousness, 「力む」 for physically straining oneself, 過労 for strain from overwork, 緊迫 for strained situations, and 「張り詰める」 for strained nerves or a tense atmosphere.

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

• 緊張きんちょうtension
• 力むりきむto strain (oneself)
• 過労かろうoverwork
• 緊迫きんぱくtension
• 張り詰めるはりつめるto strain (e.g. one's nerves)
• 引き締めるひきしめるto tighten
• 振り絞るふりしぼるto use to the full (one's voice, energy, etc.)
• 血筋ちすじlineage
• 筋違いすじちがいcramp
• ひずみstrain
• 漉すこすto filter
• いきむto strain (one's stomach)
• そばだてるto strain (one's ears, eyes)
• ストレインstrain
• 息張るいきばるto strain
• 気張るきばるto brace one's core (e.g. when carrying something heavy)
• こじつけるto distort
• 力を入れるちからをいれるto put effort into
• 菌株きんかぶ(bacterial) strain
• 張るはるto stretch
• しぼるto rack (one's brains)
• 引き絞るひきしぼるto strain (voice)
• しわ寄せしわよせill effects
• 株かぶstrain (of bacteria, etc.)
• 調子ちょうしimpetus
• 澄ますすますto strain (one's ears)
• 系統けいとうa population sharing a common ancestor (in genetics)
• 絞り上げるしぼりあげるto strain (one's voice)