Translation guide
Ways to express negative emotions like resentment, bitterness, or a vague sense of unease in Japanese, depending on the nuance.
Express lingering resentment or a grudge against someone.
A common noun for a grudge or resentment, often used in phrases like 恨みを持つ (to hold a grudge).
彼に恨みがある。
I have a grudge against him.
A more formal or literary term for a deep-seated grudge, often from past events.
両家の間には遺恨が残っている。
There is lingering ill feeling between the two families.
A deep, almost supernatural grudge or vengeful spirit; strong and dramatic.
怨念がこもった手紙を受け取った。
I received a letter filled with deep resentment.
Describe a bitter or unpleasant feeling between people, often after a conflict.
A noun meaning a lingering bad feeling or emotional knot between people; often used with が残る (to remain) or を解く (to resolve).
二人の間にはまだわだかまりがある。
There is still some ill feeling between the two of them.
Literally 'stiffness' or 'lump', metaphorically a lingering bad feeling or grudge; similar to わだかまり but slightly more physical metaphor.
To leave behind a grudge or hard feelings; formal.
その決定は遺恨を残した。
That decision left behind ill feelings.
Express a general sense of discomfort or bad atmosphere, not necessarily directed at a person.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'unpleasant feeling' or 'bad vibe'.
この部屋、嫌な感じがする。
This room gives me an ill feeling.
A sense of something being off or not right; discomfort from incongruity.
彼の態度に違和感を覚えた。
I felt an ill feeling about his attitude.
A premonition of something bad; a feeling of unease in one's chest.
Express active ill will or malicious intent toward someone.
The standard word for malice or ill will; often used in legal or everyday contexts.
彼の発言には悪意が感じられた。
I sensed ill feeling in his remarks.
Hostility or enmity; stronger than 悪意, implying opposition.
Both mean lingering bad feelings, but わだかまり is more about emotional entanglement, while しこり comes from a physical metaphor (a knot in muscle) and can feel slightly more tangible. わだかまり is more common in everyday speech.
話し合ってわだかまりを解いた。
We talked and resolved our ill feelings.
その言葉がしこりとして残った。
Those words left a lingering ill feeling.
The English phrase 'ill feeling' is broad. Direct translations like 病気の感じ (sick feeling) are incorrect unless referring to physical illness. Always consider the specific nuance: resentment, unease, or malice.
That incident left a lingering ill feeling.
胸騒ぎがして眠れなかった。
I had an ill feeling and couldn't sleep.
He harbors ill feeling toward me.