Synonym Boundary: "感じる", "気がする", "がっくり", "痛感"

When expressing "feel" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "感じる", "気がする", "がっくり", "痛感" based on context.

• 感じる (かんじる (kanjiru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to feel, to sense" and is used when 感情や感覚、ある印象などを心や体でとらえること。他動詞。/ To perceive emotions, sensations, or impressions with one's mind or body. Transitive verb..
• 気がする (きがする (ki ga suru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to feel; to have a hunch; to have a premonition" and is used when Used to express a feeling or intuition about something, often without concrete evidence. Can be translated as "I feel like...", "I have a feeling that...", or "I have a hunch..."..
• がっくり (がっくり (gakkuri) - Level: N2): Maps to "feel dejected; lose heart; slump; collapse" and is used when 期待外れやショックで、がっかりと気落ちする様子や、体が一気に崩れ落ちる様子を表す。/ Expresses a sudden feeling of disappointment, shock, or despair, often accompanied by a physical slump or drop. Can also describe a sudden collapse..
• 痛感 (つうかん (tsūkan) - Level: N2): Maps to "Feel keenly; keenly realize; acutely feel" and is used when Often used when one strongly feels regret, responsibility, or the seriousness of a situation, usually after a negative experience or realization. Can be used for positive things too, but less common..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!