緊張|きんちょうkinchou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbtension; strain; nervousness; stress
   「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.
2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbtensions (between countries, groups, etc.)
   冷戦れいせんの緊張きんちょうが高たかまった。↗

   Cold-war tension has mounted.
3. noun, physiologytonus; muscle tone

• Synonym張り詰めるはりつめるNeutralA verb for nerves or an atmosphere growing taut, as in 「張り詰めた空気」; more descriptive than 「緊張」. It also means for something to be covered over completely, e.g. with ice.
• Synonym緊張状態きんちょうじょうたいNeutralA noun for a state of tension, covering both mental strain and strained situations; unlike 「緊張」 it highlights a prolonged situation, as in 「緊張状態が続く」.
• Synonym緊張関係きんちょうかんけいWrittenA written/formal prose word for tense, adversarial relations between countries or groups; limited to relations, whereas 「緊張」 can also describe personal mental strain.
• Antonym弛緩しかんWrittenA written/formal prose, medical term for slackening — muscles going limp or discipline loosening; the direct opposite of 「緊張」.
• AntonymリラックスCasualA colloquial loanword for relaxing body and mind, as in 「リラックスする」; common in speech and the natural opposite of 「緊張」.
• Antonym緩和かんわNeutralEasing a tense situation or relaxing restrictions, as in 「緊張緩和」; where 「緊張」 names the strain, 「緩和」 names its reduction.

Use 「緊張」 for both mental strain and strained situations. For a prolonged state say 「緊張状態」, and for tensions between countries or groups 「緊張関係」. For relaxing, 「リラックス」 is the colloquial choice; for easing tensions or loosening restrictions, 「緩和」, as in 「緊張緩和」.

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

1. 心身しんしんが引き締ひきしまること。
2. 心こころが張はりつめて思おもうように行動こうどうできなくなること。あがること。
3. 両者りょうしゃの関係かんけいが悪化あっかし、争あらそいが起おこりそうなこと。
4. 筋肉きんにくが収縮しゅうしゅく状態じょうたいを持続じぞくしていること。