Translation guide
The English word "sensitive" covers a wide range of meanings, from physical sensitivity to emotional delicacy and confidentiality. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners.
Describing a part of the body or a person that reacts strongly to touch, temperature, or substances.
General term for physical sensitivity. Often used for skin, senses, or reactions.
私の肌は敏感で、すぐにかぶれます。
My skin is sensitive and gets irritated easily.
Used when something stings or irritates a sensitive area, like a cut or tooth.
冷たいものが歯にしみる。
Cold things make my teeth sensitive.
Describing a person who is easily hurt, offended, or affected by emotions.
Describes a delicate, sensitive personality. Often positive, implying thoughtfulness.
彼女は繊細な人だから、言葉に気をつけて。
She's a sensitive person, so be careful with your words.
Literally 'easily wounded', used for someone who gets hurt emotionally.
彼は傷つきやすいから、冗談もほどほどにね。
He's sensitive, so don't joke around too much.
Being aware of and caring about other people's emotions or needs.
Means being attentive and considerate, noticing what others need.
彼はよく気がつく人で、いつも手伝ってくれる。
He's a sensitive (considerate) person and always helps out.
Literally 'has compassion/thoughtfulness', a warm way to describe sensitivity to others.
彼女は思いやりがあって、困っている人を放っておけない。
She is sensitive and can't ignore people in trouble.
Describing a person who reacts strongly to certain subjects or criticism.
Pattern: [topic]に敏感. Used for being sensitive about a specific issue.
彼は自分の年齢に敏感だ。
He's sensitive about his age.
Means 'to mind' or 'to be bothered by'. Often used in negative requests.
彼は小さなことでもすぐ気にする。
He's sensitive about even small things.
Describing a matter that is delicate, confidential, or could cause problems if mishandled.
Means 'delicate' or 'tricky', often used for situations that need tact.
それは微妙な問題だから、話し合いには注意が必要だ。
That's a sensitive issue, so we need to be careful in discussions.
Loanword from English, used similarly for delicate matters or sensitive skin.
Literally 'handle with care', used for fragile items or sensitive topics.
この書類は取り扱い注意です。
These documents are sensitive (handle with care).
Describing equipment that detects small changes or reacts quickly.
Means 'high sensitivity' for sensors, microphones, etc.
このマイクは感度がいいので、小さな音も拾います。
This microphone is sensitive and picks up even quiet sounds.
Also used for devices, but more commonly for living things.
このセンサーは温度に敏感だ。
This sensor is sensitive to temperature.
敏感 (びんかん) is about reactivity to stimuli (physical or emotional), while 繊細 (せんさい) implies delicacy and fineness, often positive for personality or craftsmanship. 神経質 (しんけいしつ) is negative, meaning touchy or high-strung.
If you say 彼は敏感だ, it means he is easily affected or touchy, not that he is thoughtful. Use 気がつく or 思いやりがある instead.
彼女は敏感肌だ。
She has sensitive skin.
これは微妙な話題だから、ここでは話さないようにしよう。
This is a sensitive topic, so let's not discuss it here.
More negative nuance: overly sensitive, touchy, or high-strung.
彼は音に神経質で、少しの物音でも起きてしまう。
He's sensitive to noise and wakes up at the slightest sound.
個人情報はデリケートな問題です。
Personal information is a sensitive issue.