Translation guide
Ways to express negative emotions like resentment, bitterness, or a vague sense of unease in Japanese, depending on the nuance.
Express lingering resentment or a grudge against someone.
A common noun for a grudge or resentment, often used in phrases like 恨みを持つ (to hold a grudge).
I have a grudge against him.
A more formal or literary term for a deep-seated grudge, often from past events.
There is lingering ill feeling between the two families.
A deep, almost supernatural grudge or vengeful spirit; strong and dramatic.
I received a letter filled with deep resentment.
Describe a bitter or unpleasant feeling between people, often after a conflict.
A noun meaning a lingering bad feeling or emotional knot between people; often used with が残る (to remain) or を解く (to resolve).
There is still some ill feeling between the two of them.
Literally 'stiffness' or 'lump', metaphorically a lingering bad feeling or grudge; similar to わだかまり but slightly more physical metaphor.
To leave behind a grudge or hard feelings; formal.
That decision left behind ill feelings.
Express a general sense of discomfort or bad atmosphere, not necessarily directed at a person.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'unpleasant feeling' or 'bad vibe'.
This room gives me an ill feeling.
A sense of something being off or not right; discomfort from incongruity.
A premonition of something bad; a feeling of unease in one's chest.
Express active ill will or malicious intent toward someone.
Both mean lingering bad feelings, but わだかまり is more about emotional entanglement, while しこり comes from a physical metaphor (a knot in muscle) and can feel slightly more tangible. わだかまり is more common in everyday speech.
We talked and resolved our ill feelings.
Those words left a lingering ill feeling.
The English phrase 'ill feeling' is broad. Direct translations like 病気の感じ (sick feeling) are incorrect unless referring to physical illness. Always consider the specific nuance: resentment, unease, or malice.
That incident left a lingering ill feeling.
彼の態度に違和感を覚えた。
I felt an ill feeling about his attitude.
I had an ill feeling and couldn't sleep.
He harbors ill feeling toward me.