Emotions & Personality

あなたの気持ちきもちはよく分かりますわかります。

I understand how you feel.

Usage 気持ち is how you feel about something; 気分 (きぶん) is your general mood or physical state. 気持ちがいい = it feels good, 気分が悪い = to feel unwell.

Remember it 気 (spirit, feeling) + 持ち (holding). What your spirit is holding.

感情かんじょうを素直すなおに表現ひょうげんすることが大切たいせつです。

It's important to express your emotions honestly.

Usage 感情 is emotion as a concept, more clinical than 気持ち. 素直 (すなお) = honest and unguarded, a quality Japanese praises highly. 表現する = to express.

Remember it 感 (to feel) + 情 (feeling, circumstances). Feeling twice over.

子供こどもの成長せいちょうを見るみるのは大きなおおきな喜びよろこびです。

Watching a child grow up is a great joy.

Usage 喜び is the noun from 喜ぶ (to be delighted). This lesson has four of these verb-to-noun pairs: 喜び, 悲しみ, 怒り, 驚き — learn the pattern once.

Remember it 喜 shows a drum over a mouth — music and singing, hence delight.

大切たいせつな人ひとを失ったうしなった悲しみかなしみは言葉ことばにならない。

The sorrow of losing someone dear is beyond words.

Usage 言葉にならない = beyond words, literally 'does not become words'. 失う (うしなう) = to lose something precious, more weighty than なくす.

Remember it 悲 = 非 (not, wrong) over 心 (heart). A heart that things have gone wrong for.

怒りいかりを感じたかんじたが、冷静れいせいに対応たいおうするようにした。

I felt anger, but I made sure to respond calmly.

Usage The verb is 怒る (おこる), but the noun is いかり — an irregular pairing worth memorising. 冷静 (れいせい) = calm and level-headed.

Remember it 怒 = 奴 over 心 (heart). A heart driven into fury.

突然とつぜんの知らせしらせに驚きおどろきを隠せかくせなかった。

I couldn't hide my surprise at the sudden news.

Usage 驚く (to be surprised) takes に for what surprised you: 知らせに驚く. 知らせ (しらせ) = news or notification, from 知らせる.

Remember it 驚 has 馬 (horse) at its base — a horse startling and rearing up.

試験しけんの結果けっかが気になってきになって、不安ふあんで眠れねむれなかった。

I was anxious about the exam results and couldn't sleep.

Usage 気になる = to be on your mind, to bother you — extremely common and hard to translate directly. 不安 is the exact opposite of 安心, both built on 安.

Remember it 不 (not) + 安 (at ease). The negation of the 安 in 安心 and 安全.

連絡れんらくをもらって、ようやく安心あんしんできた。

I finally felt relieved once I heard from them.

Usage 安心する = to feel relieved. Its opposites are 心配 (worry) and 不安 (anxiety). ようやく = finally, after a long wait.

Remember it 安 (at ease) + 心 (heart). A heart set at ease.

サッカーの試合しあいでゴールが決まってきまって興奮こうふんした。

I got excited when a goal was scored in the football match.

Usage 興奮 is physical excitement or arousal, stronger than English 'excited' — for looking forward to something, use 楽しみ. ゴールが決まる = a goal is scored.

Remember it 興 (to rise, to flourish) + 奮 (to rouse oneself). Everything rising at once.

期待きたいしていたのに失望しつぼうさせられた。

I had high hopes, but I was let down.

Usage させられた is the causative passive — 'I was made to feel disappointed'. 期待する (きたい) = to expect or hope for. The same 失 as 失敗 and 失業.

Remember it 失 (to lose) + 望 (hope). Losing your hope.

努力どりょくの結果けっかに満足まんぞくしています。

I'm satisfied with the results of my efforts.

Usage 満足する takes に for what satisfies you: 結果に満足する. 満足度 (まんぞくど) = satisfaction level, as in the customer satisfaction from the work lesson.

Remember it 満 (full) + 足 (enough, to suffice). Full and sufficient — the same 足 as 足りる.

サービスに不満ふまんがあったので、クレームを言ったいった。

I was dissatisfied with the service, so I complained.

Usage クレーム is Japanese-made English: it means a complaint, not an insurance claim. 不満がある = to have a grievance. The 不 prefix again.

Remember it 不 (not) + 満 (full). Not filled up — hence dissatisfied.

家族かぞくへの愛あいは言葉ことばでは表せあらわせない。

Love for family cannot be put into words.

Usage Cultural note: 愛してる is said far less often in Japan than 'I love you' in English — it sounds weighty and dramatic. 好き carries most everyday affection.

Remember it 愛 has 心 (heart) tucked inside it, with a figure bending over as if to shelter it.

長年ながねんの友情ゆうじょうは何よりなによりも大切たいせつです。

A long friendship is more precious than anything.

Usage 友情 is friendship as a bond; 友達 is the friend. 何よりも = more than anything. The same 情 as 感情 and 情報.

Remember it 友 (friend) + 情 (feeling). The feeling between friends.

彼女かのじょの成功せいこうに嫉妬しっとを感じたかんじたが、正直しょうじきに認めたみとめた。

I felt jealous of her success, but I honestly acknowledged it.

Usage 嫉妬する takes に for the object of envy. In casual speech people say やきもち instead. 認める (みとめる) = to acknowledge or admit.

Remember it Both kanji carry 女 on the left — an old and unflattering association that the modern word has long outgrown.

大勢おおぜいの前まえで失敗しっぱいして、恥ずかしいはずかしい思いおもいをした。

I failed in front of a crowd and felt embarrassed.

Usage 恥ずかしい covers embarrassed, ashamed and shy — one word for what English splits into three. 思いをする = to have an experience of a feeling.

Remember it 恥 = 耳 (ear) + 心 (heart). Your ears burning is exactly what shame feels like.

合格ごうかくの知らせしらせを聞いてきいて、とても嬉しいうれしいです。

I'm very happy to hear the news that I passed.

Usage Key distinction: 嬉しい is happiness at a specific event, while 楽しい is something being fun or enjoyable. English 'happy' covers both, so choose deliberately.

Remember it 嬉 = 女 + 喜 (joy). Built directly on the 喜 of 喜び.

別れわかれの言葉ことばを聞いてきいて、悲しくかなしくなった。

I felt sad hearing the words of farewell.

Usage 悲しい is the adjective, 悲しみ the noun, 悲しむ the verb — the full set from one kanji. 悲しくなる = to become sad.

Remember it 悲 = 非 (not) over 心 (heart). The same character as 悲しみ.

暗いくらい夜道よみちを一人ひとりで歩くあるくのは怖いこわい。

Walking alone down a dark street at night is frightening.

Usage 怖い covers both 'I am scared' and 'it is scary' — Japanese adjectives of feeling work both ways. 恐ろしい (おそろしい) is stronger and more literary.

Remember it 怖 = 忄 (heart) + 布. The heart radical marks nearly every emotion kanji.

試験しけんに落ちるおちるかもしれないと心配しんぱいしています。

I'm worried I might fail the exam.

Usage 心配する is active worrying about something specific; 不安 is a vaguer anxiety. 試験に落ちる = to fail an exam, the opposite of 合格する.

Remember it 心 (heart) + 配 (to distribute, to arrange). Your heart spread thin over what might happen.

彼かれは明るいあかるい性格せいかくで、誰だれとでも仲良くなかよくできる。

He has a cheerful personality and gets on with anyone.

Usage 明るい性格 = a cheerful nature, 暗い性格 = a gloomy one — Japanese describes character in terms of light and dark. 誰とでも = with anyone at all.

Remember it 性 (nature, disposition) + 格 (standing, character). What you are made of.

優しいやさしい言葉ことばが相手あいての心こころを癒すいやすこともある。

Kind words can sometimes heal another person's heart.

Usage 優しい is gentle and warm by nature; 親切 is doing kind things for people. The same kanji also means easy in 易しい — different character, same reading.

Remember it 優 = 亻 (person) + 憂 (concern). Someone who feels concern for others — it also means excellent, as in 優勝.

道みちに迷ってまよっていたら、親切しんせつな人ひとが案内あんないしてくれた。

When I was lost, a kind person showed me the way.

Usage 親切 is kindness in action, so it fits strangers who help you; 優しい describes an inherent gentleness. 道に迷う = to get lost, 案内する = to guide.

Remember it 親 (intimate, parent) + 切 (to cut, earnest). Treating someone as close to you.

態度たいどが冷たいつめたいと感じてかんじて、傷ついたきずついた。

I felt their attitude was cold, and it hurt.

Usage 冷たい works for cold objects and cold people alike, exactly as in English. But for cold weather you must use 寒い. 傷つく (きずつく) = to be hurt.

Remember it 冷 carries 冫, the ice radical — the same one in 寒い.

彼女かのじょは勉強べんきょうに熱心ねっしんで、毎日まいにち遅くおそくまで図書館としょかんにいる。

She's dedicated to her studies and stays at the library until late every day.

Usage 熱心 takes に for what you are keen about: 勉強に熱心だ. Note the small tsu: ねっしん. 熱心に働く = to work devotedly.

Remember it 熱 (heat) + 心 (heart). A hot heart for something.

彼かれは真面目まじめな性格せいかくで、仕事しごとをいつも丁寧ていねいにこなす。

He has a serious nature and always does his work carefully.

Usage 真面目 is high praise in Japan — diligent, sincere, reliable — where English 'serious' can sound dull. The reading まじめ is irregular. こなす = to handle competently.

Remember it 真 (true) + 面目 (face, honour). Showing your true face.

あの子こはおしゃべりで、ずっと話し続けるはなしつづける。

That child is chatty and talks non-stop.

Usage おしゃべり is both a chatterbox and the act of chatting: おしゃべりする = to have a natter. Verb stem + 続ける = to keep on doing.

Remember it From 喋る (しゃべる, to chatter) with the polite お. Almost always written in kana.

図書館としょかんの中なかは静かしずかで、集中しゅうちゅうして勉強べんきょうできる。

It's quiet inside the library, so you can study with concentration.

Usage 静か is a な-adjective: 静かな部屋, 静かに歩く. It describes places and people alike — a 静かな人 is reserved rather than silent.

Remember it 静 = 青 (blue) + 争. Stillness after the struggle stops.

会議かいぎでは積極的せっきょくてきに意見いけんを述べるのべるようにしています。

In meetings, I make a point of actively voicing my opinions.

Usage Careful: 積極的 means proactive and forthcoming, not 'positive' in the emotional sense. For upbeat, say 前向き (まえむき). 述べる = to state, formal.

Remember it 積 (to pile up) + 極 (extreme) + 的 (-ic). The 的 suffix turns nouns into adjectives all through this lesson.

彼かれは消極的しょうきょくてきで、なかなか自分じぶんから動こううごこうとしない。

He's passive and rarely takes the initiative himself.

Usage 消極的 is passive or reluctant, not 'negative' in mood — that would be 否定的 or 悲観的. 自分から = of one's own accord.

Remember it 消 (to extinguish) + 極 (extreme) + 的. The mirror of 積極的: piling up versus dying down.

危険きけんな状況じょうきょうでも勇敢ゆうかんに立ち向かったたちむかった。

Even in a dangerous situation, they faced it bravely.

Usage 勇敢 is formal and literary; in everyday speech people say 勇気がある (to have courage). 立ち向かう = to confront or stand up to.

Remember it 勇 (courage) + 敢 (daring). The same 勇 as in 勇気.

臆病おくびょうで、なかなか新しいあたらしいことに挑戦ちょうせんできない。

I'm timid, so I struggle to take on new things.

Usage 臆病 is timid or easily frightened — closer to 'faint-hearted' than to an insult. 挑戦する (ちょうせん) = to take on a challenge. なかなか + negative = not easily.

Remember it 臆 (to shrink back) + 病 (illness). A sickness of the nerve — note the 月 flesh radical.

正直しょうじきに言ういうと、その映画えいがはあまり好きすきじゃなかった。

To be honest, I didn't much like that film.

Usage 正直に言うと = to be honest, a set opener for a frank opinion — very useful for softening criticism in Japanese. 正直な人 = an honest person.

Remember it 正 (correct) + 直 (straight). Straight and correct — the same 直 as まっすぐ.

嘘うそをついてばかりいると、嘘つきうそつきと思われるおもわれるよ。

If you keep telling lies, people will think you're a liar.

Usage Formed from 嘘をつく (to tell a lie) — the verb turned into a person. てばかりいる = to do nothing but. 思われる = to be thought of, passive.

Remember it 嘘 (a lie) + つき (from つく, to attach). The one who keeps attaching lies.

彼女かのじょは努力家どりょくかで、毎日まいにちコツコツ頑張ってがんばっている。

She's a hard worker and keeps plugging away every day.

Usage 家 (か) marks a person defined by what they do: 努力家, 政治家, 小説家, 画家. コツコツ = steadily and persistently, a very common mimetic word.

Remember it 努力 (effort) + 家 (a practitioner). One who makes effort their craft.

怠け者なまけものはいつまでも成長せいちょうできない。

A lazy person will never grow.

Usage 者 (もの/しゃ) also marks a type of person: 怠け者, 若者, 消費者, 高齢者. The verb is 怠ける (なまける) = to slack off. いつまでも = forever.

Remember it 怠ける (to be idle) + 者 (person). It is also the Japanese name for the sloth.

楽観的らっかんてきに考えるかんがえることで、困難こんなんを乗り越えのりこえられる。

By thinking optimistically, you can overcome difficulties.

Usage Note the small tsu: らっかんてき, not らくかんてき. ことで = by means of doing. 乗り越える (のりこえる) = to overcome, literally to ride over.

Remember it 楽 (ease, pleasure) + 観 (to view) + 的. Viewing things the easy way.

悲観的ひかんてきになりすぎると、チャンスを逃してのがしてしまう。

If you become too pessimistic, you'll let opportunities slip by.

Usage The mirror of 楽観的, built on 悲 (sorrow) instead of 楽 (ease). すぎる = to do something excessively, 逃す (のがす) = to let slip.

Remember it 悲 (sorrow) + 観 (to view) + 的. Viewing things sorrowfully.

創造的そうぞうてきなアイデアが問題もんだいを解決かいけつすることがある。

Creative ideas can sometimes solve problems.

Usage 創造 (そうぞう) = creation. Careful with the near-homophone 想像 (そうぞう) = imagination — same sound, different first kanji, both common at N3.

Remember it 創 (to originate) + 造 (to make) + 的. Making something from nothing.

夢ゆめを持つもつことは大切たいせつだが、現実的げんじつてきな計画けいかくも必要ひつようだ。

Having dreams is important, but you also need a realistic plan.

Usage 現実 (げんじつ) = reality, 現実的 = realistic. 実現 (じつげん) reverses the same two kanji and means 'to realise a goal' — a neat pair to learn together.

Remember it 現 (present, actual) + 実 (truth) + 的. Grounded in what is actually there.

チームワークのために協調性きょうちょうせいは欠かかかせない能力のうりょくです。

Cooperativeness is an indispensable skill for teamwork.

Usage 性 (せい) turns a quality into a noun, much like English '-ness': 協調性, 可能性 (possibility), 生産性 (productivity). Highly valued in Japanese workplaces.

Remember it 協調 (cooperation, harmony) + 性 (nature). A cooperative nature.

自己中心じこちゅうしんな態度たいどは周りまわりの人ひとを困らこまらせる。

A self-centred attitude troubles the people around you.

Usage Young people clip this to 自己中 (じこちゅう) as everyday slang for selfish. 困らせる is the causative of 困る — to cause others trouble.

Remember it 自己 (oneself) + 中心 (the centre). Putting yourself at the centre.