Translation guide
Expresses an emotional or physical reaction triggered just by thinking about something. Japanese uses conditional forms, noun + で, or set phrases rather than a single direct equivalent.
I feel sad at the thought that he won't come anymore.
I get scared at the thought of the exam.
More direct 'when I think about...', used for both emotional and physical reactions. Slightly more deliberate than ～と思うと.
I get anxious at the thought of the future.
Emphasizes 'just the thought alone' triggers the reaction. More emphatic and less common in casual speech.
I get nervous at the mere thought of meeting him.
Describe a bodily sensation (shiver, nausea, smile) caused by thinking about something.
Used when imagining a scenario triggers a physical response. Common with verbs like 震える (shiver), 吐き気がする (feel nauseous).
I start trembling at the thought of the surgery.
Similar to ～と思うと but can be used with nouns directly. Often used in set phrases like 思うとぞっとする (shudder at the thought).
Express excitement or happiness when thinking about a future event.
Common phrase for looking forward to something. 楽しみ means 'looking forward to'.
I can't help but feel excited at the thought of the trip.
わくわくする is an onomatopoeia for excitement. More casual and vivid.
Express feeling relieved or comforted by a thought.
ほっとする means 'to feel relieved'. Used when a thought brings peace of mind.
I feel relieved at the thought of going home.
There is no single Japanese word for 'at the thought of'. Translating it as 考えで or 思考で is unnatural. Use conditional patterns like ～と思うと or ～を考えると.
I feel sad at the thought of his death.
～と思うと is more immediate and emotional, often used with spontaneous feelings. ～を考えると is slightly more analytical and can be used for both emotions and physical reactions. Both are natural and interchangeable in many contexts.
I shudder at the thought of that accident.
I get excited at the thought of the new game.