How to say "tense" in Japanese

• 険悪けんあくCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'tense' as in relations or a situation being strained and threatening. Typical of describing diplomatic talks, family arguments, or an atmosphere that could turn nasty at any moment.
  事態じたいは険悪けんあくだ。↗

  The outlook is grim.
• テンス
  nounThe loanword for 'tense' in the grammatical sense, i.e. the verb category expressing time. Used mainly in linguistics and language-teaching discussion, much like the English term itself.
  中国語ちゅうごくごにおいては「テンス」を表あらわす場合ばあいには上述じょうじゅつのように「助詞じょし」か「時じを表あらわす語ご」または文脈ぶんみゃくによるものが多おおい。↗

  When indicating 'tense' in Chinese, as shown above, there are 'particles', 'time-specifying words' and also many cases where it depends on context.
• 時制じせい
  no-adjectiveThe native (Sino-Japanese) term for grammatical tense, the linguistics concept contrasting past, present, and future. This is the usual choice when writing about grammar in Japanese.
  真理しんりは通例つうれい現在げんざい時制じせいで表現ひょうげんされる。↗

  Truth is usually expressed in the present tense.
• 時相じそう
  nounA technical linguistics term rendered 'tense' in some glossaries, but it is marginal and specialized; for the ordinary grammatical sense of 'tense', 時制 is almost always the word you want.
• きな臭いきなくさい
  i-adjectiveLiterally 'smelling of gunpowder'; describes a situation as tense because armed conflict or an open clash seems about to break out. Suits news about border disputes or escalating confrontations, not everyday stress.

For atmosphere use 険悪 (situations, relations) or 「きな臭い」 (imminent conflict); 時制 is the grammatical 'tense'; 「テンス」 is its loanword equivalent; 時相 is a rare linguistics term.

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

• 険悪けんあくdangerous
• テンスtense
• 時制じせいtense
• 時相じそうtense
• きな臭いきなくさいsmelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out)
• こちんこちんwound up
• 凛りん(of an atmosphere) tense
• 時ときtense
• カチカチscared stiff