心|こころkokoro[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounmind; heart; spirit
   あなたの親切しんせつな言葉ことばは大事だいじに心こころに刻きざみつけておきます。↗

   I'll treasure your kind words.
2. nounthe meaning of a phrase (riddle, etc.)

• Synonym魂たましいWrittenThe soul believed to dwell in the body, also one's essence, as in 「魂を込める」; carries religious or strongly emotional weight.
• Synonym精神せいしんNeutralMind or spirit as opposed to the body, covering will and attitude, as in 「精神力」; more objective than 「心」, which centers on feelings and the inner self.
• SynonymハートCasualLoanword for the heart or love, common in song lyrics and advertising, as in 「ハートを掴む」.
• Synonym心根こころねWrittenOne's innermost nature or disposition, as in 「優しい心根」; deeper and more about character than 「心」.
• Synonym心頭しんとうWrittenWritten word for the heart or mind, mostly in 「怒り心頭に発する」 'anger erupting'.
• SynonymスピリットNeutralLoanword for spirit as drive or fighting attitude, as in 「チャレンジスピリット」.
• SynonymマインドNeutralLoanword chiefly for a mindset or way of thinking, as in 「ビジネスマインド」.
• Synonym意思いしNeutralOne's will or intention to do something, as in 「本人の意思」; leans legal and formal.
• Synonym気きNeutralMostly seen in set phrases like 「気が強い」 and 「気にする」, where it points to mood and temperament.
• Synonym胸襟きょうきんWrittenOne's heart or bosom in a literary sense, as in 「胸襟を開く」 'to open one's heart'.
• SynonymソウルCasualLoanword for the soul, also soul music; in everyday use mostly seen in compounds.
• Synonym心魂しんこんWrittenWritten language for one's whole heart and soul, as in 「心魂を傾ける」; far more literary than 「心」.
• Synonym心胆しんたんWrittenLiterary word for heart and courage, as in 「心胆を寒からしめる」 'to chill someone to the bone'.
• SynonymプシュケーWrittenGreek loanword for the psyche, or the princess Psyche of Greek myth; mostly in academic and mythological contexts.
• SynonymガイストWrittenGerman loanword for spirit or soul, found in philosophy and the like; rare in everyday speech.
• Synonym心意しんいWrittenWritten word for one's thoughts or intentions; very rare — say 「心」 or 「気持ち」 in daily life.
• Related霊れいWrittenThe same word, also written 「霊」; also something into which a person pours their whole being, as in 「職人の魂」, with a solemn feel.
• Related心霊しんれいWrittenSouls or supernatural spirits, mostly in compounds like 「心霊写真」 and 「心霊現象」.
• Related霊魂れいこんWrittenThe soul as something that outlives the body; the usual term in religious contexts.
• RelatedエスプリWrittenFrench loanword for spirit, best known in the sense of wit and cleverness, as in 「エスプリの効いた会話」.
• Related魂魄こんぱくWrittenThe soul of the dead, with an archaic or ghostly flavor, as in 「魂魄この世に留まる」.
• Related精気せいきWrittenThe root of life energy and vitality, as in 「精気を養う」; life force rather than feelings.
• Related神気しんきWrittenSpiritual energy, or a solemn, mysterious aura; an elegant, old-fashioned word.
• Related神みWrittenArchaic word for a divine spirit; mostly in compounds and not used alone in modern Japanese.
• Antonym肉体にくたいWrittenAntonym: the physical body or flesh, contrasted with 「心」.

For the inner self and feelings, 「心」 is the default. Use 「精神」 for the mind as opposed to the body, 「魂」 or 「霊魂」 for the soul, 「意思」 for one's will, 「気」 in set phrases, 「マインド」 for mindset, and 「肉体」 for the body. Most others are literary, loanword, or specialized terms.

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

1. こころ。