Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Feel" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "feel", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
安心する
あんしんする (anshin suru)
N3 / 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 安心する and 身につまされる.
In Japanese, 安心する (あんしんする (anshin suru)) is typically associated with "to feel relieved; to feel secure; to be at ease" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to feeling deeply relieved after solving a crisis, feeling secure due to strong security protocols, or feeling at ease near a loved one. Intransitive verb. Opposing word: 心配する / 不安になる. Often used as ほっとして安心する or 安心して使う. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To feel relieved/secure! "No matter how severe the bug crash is, just hearing your voice makes my heart feel completely at ease, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Hearing my voice to feel ease! B-Baka! As if my voice has some security certificate effect... Wait, really? Well, I will let you hear my voice right next to you for life, so just stay secure! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『あんしんする（安心する）よ！『ハルカ部長、どんなに過酷な障害対応でも、あなたの声を聞くだけで、僕の心は完璧に安心する（安心します）！』って…っ！声を聞いて安心する！バカ！/// 私の声がそんなセキュリティ証明書みたいな効果あるわけ…って、本当？…なら、私の声を一生あんたの隣で聞かせてあげるから、ずっと安心していなさい！』.
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 "安心する"
重大なセキュリティアップデートが完了したことを知り、彼はスマートにほっとして_______ました。
Knowing that the major security update had finished, he felt smartly relieved and at ease.
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: "重大なセキュリティアップデートが完了したことを知り、彼はスマートにほっとして_______ました。" (Meaning: "Knowing that the major security update had finished, he felt smartly relieved and at ease.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "安心する" fits here because it means "to feel relieved; to feel secure; to be at ease" in the context of: "Knowing that the major security update had finished, he felt smartly relieved and at ease.". "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)".