Translation guide
The English word 'mood' covers a range of concepts from emotional state to atmosphere and grammatical modality. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the intended meaning.
気分がいいです。
I'm in a good mood.
そのレストランは雰囲気がいいです。
The restaurant has a nice atmosphere.
Describing how someone feels at a particular time, often temporary.
Refers to one's current emotional or physical state. Commonly used for temporary feelings.
今日は気分がいい。
I'm in a good mood today.
気分が悪いので、帰ります。
I'm not feeling well, so I'm going home.
Often used to describe someone's mood as perceived by others, especially in social contexts. Can be used in phrases like 'good mood' or 'bad mood'.
A broader term for feelings, sensations, or mood. Can overlap with 気分 but is more general.
気持ちが落ち着かない。
I feel restless / uneasy.
Describing the feeling or ambiance of an environment, event, or piece of art.
The most common word for atmosphere or mood of a place, situation, or person.
この店は雰囲気がいい。
This restaurant has a nice atmosphere.
変な雰囲気になった。
The mood became awkward.
Loanword from English, often used for a romantic or stylish atmosphere, or in set phrases like 'mood music'.
ムードのあるレストラン
a restaurant with a romantic atmosphere
Literally 'air', but often used metaphorically for the mood or atmosphere of a group, especially in phrases like 'read the air'.
Referring to verb forms that express modality, such as indicative, subjunctive, imperative.
Expressing whether one feels like doing something or not.
Used to say 'in the mood to do something'.
映画を見る気分じゃない。
I'm not in the mood to watch a movie.
散歩する気分だ。
I feel like taking a walk.
More about willingness or intention than mood, but can overlap.
やる気が出ない。
I don't feel motivated / I'm not in the mood to do it.
気分 (kibun) is your own internal feeling, often physical or emotional. 機嫌 (kigen) is how your mood appears to others, often used in social contexts. 気持ち (kimochi) is a broader term for feelings and sensations.
English 'mood' is often used in phrases like 'mood lighting' or 'mood music', which are translated with ムード (mūdo) or 雰囲気 (fun'iki), not 気分. Also, 'I'm in a mood' (meaning irritable) doesn't have a direct equivalent; you might say 機嫌が悪い or イライラしている.
to read the room / sense the mood
grammatical forms that express mood