Translation guide
Expressing worry or unease about a situation, event, or outcome. Japanese offers several common verbs and adjectives, each with slightly different nuances and grammatical patterns.
I'm worried about the exam results.
She is anxious about her future.
Literally 'feel uneasy'. It emphasizes the emotional state of anxiety rather than the act of worrying. Often used for vague or persistent unease.
He feels anxious about being alone.
I feel anxious about the new environment.
Means 'to be on one's mind' or 'to bother'. It implies a nagging worry or concern, often about something specific. Less intense than 心配する.
I'm anxious about his health.
I'm worried about tomorrow's weather.
To fret or be in a state of anxious impatience. Often used when waiting for an outcome or when things are not progressing.
I'm anxious because I haven't received a reply.
To express nervousness or anxiety before a particular event, like a speech, interview, or performance.
Means 'to get nervous' or 'tense'. It is the standard word for performance anxiety or nervousness before an event.
I always feel anxious before interviews.
I got nervous during the speech.
Onomatopoeic word for a pounding heart. It describes the physical sensation of nervous excitement or anxiety.
I felt anxious/excited on my first date.
To express a more profound, often irrational, anxiety or fear about something.
To be driven by anxiety, to be seized with unease. It conveys a strong, often overwhelming feeling.
He was seized by a vague anxiety.
To fear or be afraid of. It can be used for anxiety about a negative outcome, but it is stronger and closer to 'fear'.
心配する is an active worry, often about a specific thing. 不安に思う is a passive feeling of unease, often about something intangible. Use 心配する for 'I'm worried about my test score' and 不安に思う for 'I feel anxious about the future'.
I'm worried about my test score.
I feel anxious about the future.
For nervousness before a performance or event, 緊張する is more natural than 心配する. Saying スピーチを心配している sounds like you are worried about the content or outcome of the speech, not that you are nervous about giving it.
I'm nervous about the speech.
彼は失敗を恐れている。
He is afraid of failure. (He feels anxious about failing.)