Translation guide
Expressing worry or unease about a situation, event, or outcome. Japanese offers several common verbs and adjectives, each with slightly different nuances and grammatical patterns.
To express a general feeling of anxiety or worry about something.
The most common and versatile way to say 'worry about' or 'be anxious about'. It can be used for both serious and minor concerns.
試験の結果を心配している。
I'm worried about the exam results.
She is anxious about her future.
Literally 'feel uneasy'. It emphasizes the emotional state of anxiety rather than the act of worrying. Often used for vague or persistent unease.
彼は一人でいることに不安を感じている。
He feels anxious about being alone.
新しい環境に不安を覚える。
I feel anxious about the new environment.
Means 'to be on one's mind' or 'to bother'. It implies a nagging worry or concern, often about something specific. Less intense than 心配する.
彼の健康が気になる。
I'm anxious about his health.
明日の天気が気になる。
I'm worried about tomorrow's weather.
To fret or be in a state of anxious impatience. Often used when waiting for an outcome or when things are not progressing.
返事が来なくてやきもきしている。
I'm anxious because I haven't received a reply.
To express nervousness or anxiety before a particular event, like a speech, interview, or performance.
Means 'to get nervous' or 'tense'. It is the standard word for performance anxiety or nervousness before an event.
面接の前はいつも緊張する。
I always feel anxious before interviews.
スピーチで緊張してしまった。
I got nervous during the speech.
Onomatopoeic word for a pounding heart. It describes the physical sensation of nervous excitement or anxiety.
初めてのデートでドキドキした。
I felt anxious/excited on my first date.
To express a more profound, often irrational, anxiety or fear about something.
To be driven by anxiety, to be seized with unease. It conveys a strong, often overwhelming feeling.
彼は漠然とした不安に駆られていた。
He was seized by a vague anxiety.
To fear or be afraid of. It can be used for anxiety about a negative outcome, but it is stronger and closer to 'fear'.
彼は失敗を恐れている。
He is afraid of failure. (He feels anxious about failing.)
心配する is an active worry, often about a specific thing. 不安に思う is a passive feeling of unease, often about something intangible. Use 心配する for 'I'm worried about my test score' and 不安に思う for 'I feel anxious about the future'.
テストの点数を心配している。
I'm worried about my test score.
将来に不安を感じる。
I feel anxious about the future.
For nervousness before a performance or event, 緊張する is more natural than 心配する. Saying スピーチを心配している sounds like you are worried about the content or outcome of the speech, not that you are nervous about giving it.
スピーチが緊張する。
I'm nervous about the speech.
スピーチが緊張する。
I'm nervous about the speech.