悩ます|なやますnayamasu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto afflict; to torment; to harass; to molest
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 悩ます（なやます） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 悩まします（なやまします） |
| Negative (nai) | 悩まさない（なやまさない） |
| polite (masen) | 悩ましません（なやましません） |
| classical zu / nu | 悩まさず・悩まさぬ（なやまさず・なやまさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 悩ました（なやました） |
| polite (mashita) | 悩ましました（なやましました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 悩まさなかった（なやまさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 悩ましませんでした（なやましませんでした） |
| Te form | 悩まして（なやまして） |
| Potential | 悩ませる（なやませる） |
| Passive | 悩まされる（なやまされる） |
| Causative | 悩まさせる（なやまさせる） |
| Causative passive | 悩まさせられる（なやまさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 悩ませば（なやませば） |
| tara | 悩ましたら（なやましたら） |
| Volitional | 悩まそう（なやまそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 悩ましましょう（なやましましょう） |
| Imperative | 悩ませ（なやませ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
母が悩む
問題が母を悩ます
悩む puts the focus on the person who is worrying (母が悩む), while 悩ます shifts the focus to the cause that troubles someone (問題が母を悩ます).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym苦しめるくるしめるNeutralTo inflict suffering, physical or emotional; stronger than 「悩ます」, which suggests worry and distress rather than intense pain.
- Synonym苛むさいなむWrittenWritten style. To torment or grind someone down, as in 「良心に苛まれる」; harsher than 「悩ます」, which is the milder word.
- Synonym責め苛むせめさいなむNeutralTo torment or persecute ruthlessly; far more severe than 「悩ます」, which only suggests causing distress.
- Related責めるせめるNeutralTo blame, criticize or press someone, and by extension to torment; 「悩ます」 centers on causing distress rather than reproach.
- Related嫌がらせいやがらせNeutralA noun for deliberate harassment or pestering, as in 「嫌がらせ電話」; 「悩ます」 is the verb for causing distress.
- Related煩わすわずらわすNeutralTo put someone to trouble or inconvenience, as in 「お手を煩わす」; 「悩ます」 is about causing emotional distress instead.
- Related煩わせるわずらわせるNeutralA variant of 「煩わす」: to make someone go to trouble or effort; 「悩ます」 is about causing worry and distress.
- Related苛立てるいらだてるNeutralTo make someone irritated or restless; 「悩ます」 is about causing worry and heartache rather than agitation.
- Related責め立てるせめたてるNeutralTo fire questions or criticism at someone relentlessly, or keep pressing them; 「悩ます」 is about causing distress.
- RelatedいたぶるCasualColloquial. To torment or tease the weak out of malice; 「悩ます」 is more neutral and lacks that cruel nuance.
- Antonym喜ばすよろこばすNeutralOpposite to 「悩ます」 on the pleasure–pain scale: to make someone happy or glad instead of distressed.
- Antonym楽しませるたのしませるNeutralOpposite to 「悩ます」 on the pleasure–pain scale: to entertain or amuse someone, giving them enjoyment rather than distress.
Use 「悩ます」 for causing someone worry or distress, as in 「頭を悩ます」. For harsher torment turn to 「苦しめる」 or 「苛む」; for putting someone to trouble, 「煩わす」; for deliberate harassment, 「嫌がらせ」. The antonym is 「喜ばす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
