Translation guide
The English word 'agitation' covers emotional states (anxiety, irritation), physical movement (shaking, stirring), and political/social activism. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Express a state of mental disturbance, anxiety, or being emotionally unsettled.
The most direct equivalent for emotional agitation, covering shock, disturbance, or being shaken up. Commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼はその知らせを聞いて動揺した。
He was agitated when he heard the news.
動揺を隠せなかった。
I couldn't hide my agitation.
Refers to excitement or being worked up, which can overlap with agitation when the emotion is intense and uncontrolled. Often used for both positive and negative excitement.
彼女は興奮して声が震えていた。
She was so agitated that her voice trembled.
Impatience or feeling flustered, often from pressure or urgency. Closer to 'fretfulness' but used when agitation stems from time constraints or stress.
焦りからミスを連発した。
Agitation made me make one mistake after another.
Anxiety or unease. While not a perfect match for 'agitation', it is often the underlying feeling and is used when the agitation is anxiety-driven.
不安でじっとしていられなかった。
I was so agitated with anxiety that I couldn't stay still.
To be upset or flustered to the point of losing composure. Stronger and more dramatic than 動揺.
突然の来客に気が動転した。
I was thrown into agitation by the sudden visitor.
Describe the act of moving something vigorously, such as shaking a liquid or stirring a mixture.
Technical term for stirring, agitating, or churning, used in scientific, industrial, or cooking contexts.
溶液を攪拌する。
Agitate the solution.
To shake something. Common verb for agitating a container or object.
瓶をよく振ってください。
Please agitate the bottle well.
To stir or mix by moving a utensil. Used in cooking or when agitating a liquid with a tool.
Refer to the act of stirring up public opinion, often for political or social change.
Incitement or agitation, often with a negative connotation of stirring up trouble or rebellion. Used in political contexts.
彼は群衆を扇動した。
He agitated the crowd.
A campaign or movement. While broader, it can imply agitation when referring to organized efforts for change.
English 'agitation' is often translated as 動揺, but in casual speech, Japanese speakers might use more specific words like 焦り (impatience) or 不安 (anxiety). Using 動揺 in everyday conversation can sound slightly formal or literary.
動揺 implies being shaken or disturbed, often by bad news. 興奮 is a broader term for excitement, which can be positive or negative. If the agitation is from anger or excitement, 興奮 may be more appropriate.
スープをかき混ぜる。
Agitate the soup.
Loanword from English, used specifically for political agitation or propaganda. Often shortened to アジ.
労働組合のアジテーションが激しくなった。
The labor union's agitation intensified.
選挙運動が過熱している。
The election agitation is heating up.