Translation guide
The English word 'sensibility' refers to the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences; sensitivity. This guide helps learners express this concept naturally in Japanese, covering emotional sensitivity, artistic appreciation, and related nuances.
Expressing the capacity to be emotionally aware, empathetic, or sensitive to others' feelings.
The most direct equivalent for 'sensibility' as a general capacity for emotional or aesthetic sensitivity. Used in both everyday and formal contexts.
彼女は感受性が豊かだ。
She has a rich sensibility.
感受性を磨くことは芸術家にとって重要だ。
Cultivating sensibility is important for an artist.
Refers to one's innate sensitivity or aesthetic sense. Often used in contexts of art, design, or personal taste. Slightly more intuitive and less formal than 感受性.
彼の音楽の感性は独特だ。
His musical sensibility is unique.
Literally 'delicate heart', this phrase emphasizes a tender, sensitive nature. Suitable for describing someone easily moved or affected by emotions.
彼は繊細な心の持ち主だ。
He is a person of delicate sensibility.
Describing the ability to appreciate beauty, art, or refined things.
Means 'aesthetic eye' or 'sense of beauty'. Used for someone with a keen eye for art, fashion, or design.
彼女は審美眼がある。
She has an aesthetic sensibility.
Literally 'sense of beauty'. A common term for aesthetic sensibility, often used in everyday conversation.
彼の美的感覚は素晴らしい。
His aesthetic sensibility is wonderful.
Loanword from English 'sense'. Commonly used to mean good taste or sensibility in fashion, design, etc. Casual and widely understood.
Referring to the capacity for emotional response, often contrasted with rationality. Common in literary or philosophical contexts.
Refers to emotion, feeling, or sentiment. Often used in literary criticism or discussions of art to denote emotional depth.
その詩は深い情感に満ちている。
The poem is filled with deep sensibility.
A phrase meaning 'sensibility over reason'. Used to emphasize emotional or intuitive judgment over logical thinking.
彼は理性より感性で動くタイプだ。
He is the type to act on sensibility rather than reason.
Expressing a keen awareness of social justice, ethics, or the feelings of others in society.
Literally 'social sensibility'. Used in academic or formal contexts to describe awareness of social issues.
彼の社会的感受性は高く評価されている。
His social sensibility is highly regarded.
Means 'human rights sensibility'. Refers to an intuitive understanding of human rights issues.
人権感覚を養う教育が必要だ。
Education to cultivate human rights sensibility is necessary.
感受性 (kanjusei) is more about receptivity to external stimuli and emotional nuance, often used in psychological or educational contexts. 感性 (kansei) is broader and refers to one's innate sense or intuition, especially in art and creativity. For 'sensibility' in the sense of refined taste, 感性 or センス may be more natural.
The word 感覚 (kankaku) means 'sensation' or 'sense' (physical), not 'sensibility' in the emotional/aesthetic sense. Using it to translate 'sensibility' would be incorrect.
That person has good sensibility, doesn't he?