Translation guide
The English word 'emotional' covers a range of meanings from 'relating to emotions' to 'easily affected by emotions' to 'arousing strong feelings'. Japanese expresses these with different words and phrases depending on the nuance.
Describing something that is about emotions, not physical or logical.
The most direct equivalent for 'emotional' in the sense of 'pertaining to emotions'. Used for emotional problems, emotional development, etc.
I have emotional problems.
Often used for emotional development or emotional aspects of something, with a nuance of sentiment or feeling. Common in psychology and child development.
His emotional development is delayed.
Literally 'of the heart/mind'. Used for emotional support, emotional scars, etc. Softer and more personal than 感情的な.
I need emotional support.
Describing a person who gets emotional easily, or a situation where someone is visibly upset or moved.
A common phrase meaning 'to get emotional'. Used when someone becomes upset, angry, or tearful.
He gets emotional easily.
I got emotional while talking.
Means 'easily moved to tears', 'sentimental'. Describes a person who cries easily at movies, stories, etc.
Means 'sentimental', often with a nuance of being overly emotional or maudlin. More literary.
I feel emotional/sentimental.
Describing something like a speech, movie, or event that makes people feel strong emotions.
Means 'moving', 'touching'. Used for things that evoke deep emotion, like a moving speech or film.
It was an emotional speech.
Literally 'appeal to emotions'. Used for emotional appeals, emotional manipulation, etc.
An emotional advertisement.
Loanword from English. Used in casual or trendy contexts, often for music or art that is emotionally charged.
It's an emotional song, isn't it?
Describing a decision, reaction, or argument that is based on feelings, not logic.
She's emotional, so she always cries when watching movies.
That's an emotional argument.