Translation guide
The feeling of wanting something that someone else has, or the act of feeling this way. Japanese distinguishes between positive, admiring envy and negative, resentful envy.
Expressing that you admire someone's quality, possession, or situation and wish you had it too, without ill will.
An i-adjective meaning 'enviable' or 'I'm jealous (in a good way)'. Used to express admiration and a wish that you had the same thing. Very common in daily conversation.
新しい車、羨ましいな。
I'm so envious of your new car!
彼の才能が羨ましい。
I envy his talent.
A slightly more formal phrase meaning 'to feel envious'. Often used in writing or polite speech.
彼女の成功を羨ましく思います。
I feel envious of her success.
Literary phrase meaning 'a look of envy/admiration'. Used in descriptive writing.
彼は羨望の眼差しでその絵を見つめた。
He gazed at the painting with a look of envy.
Expressing a stronger, often bitter feeling of wanting what someone else has, sometimes with resentment.
An i-adjective meaning 'enviable' but with a nuance of resentment or jealousy. Stronger and more negative than 羨ましい.
彼の昇進が妬ましくて仕方ない。
I can't help but feel bitterly envious of his promotion.
A noun meaning 'jealousy' or 'envy', often with a strong negative connotation. Can be used for romantic jealousy as well as envy of possessions/success.
Literally 'jealousy heart/mind', meaning a feeling of jealousy or envy. Often used in psychological or descriptive contexts.
A verb meaning 'to envy' with a strong sense of resentment or begrudging. Less common in daily speech.
Referring to envy as an abstract concept, often in moral, religious, or literary contexts.
A noun meaning 'envy' or 'admiration', often used in formal or literary contexts. Can be neutral or positive.
羨望は時に人を成長させる。
Envy sometimes helps people grow.
Also used for the abstract concept of envy/jealousy, especially in negative or sinful contexts.
Directly stating that you envy someone or something.
The most natural way to say 'I envy ~'. Use the thing envied as the subject with が.
彼の自由な生活が羨ましい。
I envy his free lifestyle.
A more formal pattern meaning 'to feel envious of ~'. The object of envy is marked with を.
彼の成功を羨ましく思う。
I feel envious of his success.
A verb pattern meaning 'to envy/resent ~'. Strong negative nuance.
彼は同僚の昇進を妬んでいる。
He resents his colleague's promotion.
羨ましい (urayamashii) is the safest and most common word for 'envy' and is usually positive or neutral. 妬ましい (netamashii) implies resentment and is much stronger. 嫉妬 (shitto) is a noun often used for jealousy in relationships or intense envy. Use 羨ましい unless you specifically want to express bitterness.
羨ましい！いいなあ。
I'm so jealous! Lucky you.
彼の才能が妬ましい。
I resent his talent.
嫉妬で気が狂いそうだ。
I'm going crazy with jealousy.
Using 嫉妬 (shitto) when you just mean 'I'm a little envious' can sound overly dramatic or negative. Stick to 羨ましい for casual, positive envy.
She felt envy/jealousy toward her friend's happiness.
嫉妬心に駆られて、彼は嘘をついた。
Driven by envy, he told a lie.
There's no point in envying others' success.
Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.