Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Worry" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "worry", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
心配
しんぱい (shinpai)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
悩み
なやみ (nayami)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "worry" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 心配 and 悩み.
In Japanese, 心配 (しんぱい (shinpai)) is typically associated with "worry, concern" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Can be a noun.
On the other hand, 悩み (なやみ (nayami)) maps to "worry; trouble; concern" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A personal problem or source of anxiety that one struggles with. It's the noun form of 悩む. A literal translation of "worry" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "心配"
試験の結果が心配です。
I'm worried about the test results.
Bilingual Context for "悩み"
彼は仕事の悩みがあるようです。
He seems to have worries about his job.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "試験の結果が ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "I'm worried about the test results.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "心配" fits here because it means "worry, concern" in the context of: "I'm worried about the test results.". "悩み" represents "worry; trouble; concern".