Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Feel" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "feel", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
しゅんとする
しゅんとする (shun to suru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
身につまされる
みにつまされる (mi ni tsumasareru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "feel" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between しゅんとする and 身につまされる.
In Japanese, しゅんとする (しゅんとする (shun to suru)) is typically associated with "to feel dejected, to look crestfallen, to droop" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An onomatopoeic expression describing a sudden feeling of sadness, disappointment, or dejection, often visible in one's posture, expression, or mood. It can also describe plants drooping..
On the other hand, 身につまされる (みにつまされる (mi ni tsumasareru)) maps to "to feel for someone, to sympathize deeply, to be touched to the quick (because one's own situation is similar)" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Expresses deep empathy where one feels another's suffering or situation as if it were their own, often due to similar past experiences or current circumstances.. A literal translation of "feel" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "しゅんとする"
先生に叱られて、子供はしゅんとしてしまった。
The child became crestfallen after being scolded by the teacher.
Bilingual Context for "身につまされる"
彼の苦労話を聞いて、私自身の経験と重なり身につまされた。
Hearing about his hardships, I was deeply sympathetic as it overlapped with my own experiences.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "先生に叱られて、子供はしゅんとしてしまった。" (Meaning: "The child became crestfallen after being scolded by the teacher.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "しゅんとする" fits here because it means "to feel dejected, to look crestfallen, to droop" in the context of: "The child became crestfallen after being scolded by the teacher.". "身につまされる" represents "to feel for someone, to sympathize deeply, to be touched to the quick (because one's own situation is similar)".