Translation guide
The English word 'sensing' can refer to detecting something through the senses, intuitively feeling something, or using technology to detect. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each of these meanings.
I sensed danger.
The sensor sensed movement.
Expressing that one perceives or detects something through physical senses or a gut feeling.
The most common and versatile verb for 'to feel' or 'to sense'. Can be used for physical sensations, emotions, and intuitive feelings.
I sensed someone's gaze.
Sensing danger, I stopped.
To sense or infer something from subtle cues, often used for reading the atmosphere or someone's feelings.
Sensing his feelings, I said nothing.
Literally 'to feel a presence/sign'. Used when sensing that someone or something is nearby, often without seeing it.
I sensed someone's presence in the room.
To detect or sense, often used in technical or formal contexts, such as sensors detecting something.
The sensor sensed movement.
Describing the action of a device or system detecting physical phenomena.
To detect or sense, commonly used for security systems, smoke detectors, etc.
The smoke detector sensed smoke.
Also used for technological sensing, often interchangeable with 検知する but slightly broader.
Loanword from English 'sensing', used in technical fields like engineering or IoT.
This device senses temperature.
感じる is a general verb for feeling or sensing, while 察する implies inferring or reading between the lines. Use 察する when you sense something unspoken.
I felt her sadness.
I sensed (inferred) her sadness.
English often uses 'sensing' as a gerund. In Japanese, it's more natural to use a verb phrase like 感じること or rephrase the sentence. For example, 'His sensing of danger was quick' is better expressed as 彼は危険を感じるのが早かった.
Sensing something was wrong, she looked back.
The device is capable of sensing minute vibrations.
This camera senses movement even in the dark.