Translation guide
The English word 'distress' covers a range of negative states: emotional suffering, physical pain, urgent danger, and financial trouble. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the specific meaning.
Express deep emotional pain, worry, or anguish.
Refers to deep mental suffering or anguish, often used in serious contexts.
彼は深い苦悩に沈んでいる。
He is sunk in deep distress.
General term for suffering, pain, or distress, both physical and emotional.
彼女の苦しみを見るのはつらい。
It's hard to see her distress.
Heartache, mental distress, worry. Often used for personal concerns.
その知らせは彼に大きな心痛を与えた。
The news caused him great distress.
Grief, deep sorrow. More literary or formal.
彼は悲嘆に暮れた。
He was overcome with distress.
Describe physical suffering or bodily discomfort.
Physical pain or agony. Can also be used for mental pain.
患者は激しい苦痛を訴えた。
The patient complained of severe distress.
General word for pain, ache. Less intense than 苦痛.
Refer to a call for help in an emergency.
Distress signal, SOS. Used for ships, aircraft, etc.
船が遭難信号を発信した。
The ship sent out a distress signal.
International distress signal, commonly understood.
彼らはSOSを送った。
They sent an SOS.
Express severe financial trouble or poverty.
Financial distress, destitution, hardship.
多くの家庭が経済的困窮に陥っている。
Many families are in financial distress.
Poverty, destitution. More general than 困窮.
Express that something causes emotional pain or worry.
To cause suffering, to torment. Transitive verb.
その知らせは彼を苦しめた。
The news distressed him.
To cause worry, to trouble. Causative form of 悩む.
彼の行動は私を悩ませた。
His behavior distressed me.
Describe a person or thing that is in a distressed condition.
Is suffering, is in distress. Te-iru form of 苦しむ.
彼は今、精神的に苦しんでいる。
He is in mental distress now.
Is in trouble, is distressed. More casual and common for everyday difficulties.
彼女はお金に困っている。
She is in financial distress.
苦悩 (くのう) is deep mental anguish, often philosophical or existential. 苦しみ (くるしみ) is a broader term for suffering, both physical and emotional. 苦痛 (くつう) emphasizes physical pain but can also be used for mental pain in formal contexts.
In everyday conversation, English 'distress' often sounds too strong. Japanese equivalents like 苦悩 or 苦痛 can sound overly dramatic. For mild worry or trouble, use 困る (こまる) or 悩む (なやむ) instead.
腹部に痛みがあります。
I have distress in my abdomen.
Distress signal, call for rescue. Similar to 遭難信号.
救難信号がキャッチされた。
A distress signal was picked up.
貧困にあえぐ人々を助けたい。
I want to help people in distress.
To be distressed, to grieve. Literally 'to hurt one's heart'.
彼女はその話を聞いて心を痛めた。
She was distressed to hear that story.