Translation guide
The English word 'sensing' can refer to detecting something through the senses, intuitively feeling something, or using technology to detect. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each of these meanings.
危険を感じた。
I sensed danger.
センサーが動きを感知した。
The sensor sensed movement.
Expressing that one perceives or detects something through physical senses or a gut feeling.
The most common and versatile verb for 'to feel' or 'to sense'. Can be used for physical sensations, emotions, and intuitive feelings.
誰かの視線を感じた。
I sensed someone's gaze.
危険を感じて立ち止まった。
Sensing danger, I stopped.
To sense or infer something from subtle cues, often used for reading the atmosphere or someone's feelings.
彼の気持ちを察して何も言わなかった。
Sensing his feelings, I said nothing.
Literally 'to feel a presence/sign'. Used when sensing that someone or something is nearby, often without seeing it.
部屋に誰かの気配を感じた。
I sensed someone's presence in the room.
To detect or sense, often used in technical or formal contexts, such as sensors detecting something.
センサーが動きを感知した。
The sensor sensed movement.
Describing the action of a device or system detecting physical phenomena.
To detect or sense, commonly used for security systems, smoke detectors, etc.
煙感知器が煙を検知した。
The smoke detector sensed smoke.
Also used for technological sensing, often interchangeable with 検知する but slightly broader.
このカメラは暗闇でも動きを感知します。
This camera senses movement even in the dark.
Loanword from English 'sensing', used in technical fields like engineering or IoT.
このデバイスは温度をセンシングする。
This device senses temperature.
感じる is a general verb for feeling or sensing, while 察する implies inferring or reading between the lines. Use 察する when you sense something unspoken.
彼女の悲しみを感じた。
I felt her sadness.
彼女の悲しみを察した。
I sensed (inferred) her sadness.
English often uses 'sensing' as a gerund. In Japanese, it's more natural to use a verb phrase like 感じること or rephrase the sentence. For example, 'His sensing of danger was quick' is better expressed as 彼は危険を感じるのが早かった.
何かおかしいと感じて、彼女は振り返った。
Sensing something was wrong, she looked back.
その装置は微小な振動を感知することができる。
The device is capable of sensing minute vibrations.