Translation guide
The English word 'stress' covers several distinct concepts: mental/emotional pressure, physical tension or force, and linguistic emphasis. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Express psychological pressure, worry, or tension from work, relationships, or life.
The most common and direct loanword for mental/emotional stress. Used in everyday conversation.
最近、仕事のストレスがたまっている。
Lately, work stress has been building up.
ストレスを感じたら、散歩するといいですよ。
If you feel stressed, it's good to take a walk.
Refers to nervous tension or strain, often in specific situations like public speaking or exams.
面接の前はいつも緊張する。
I always get nervous before interviews.
Loanword for external pressure or expectations from others, often in competitive contexts.
彼はプレッシャーに弱い。
He doesn't handle pressure well.
A more formal term for psychological burden or mental load. Used in written or clinical contexts.
介護は大きな精神的負担になることがある。
Caregiving can become a major mental burden.
Describe physical pressure, strain on objects, or bodily tension.
Technical term for stress in physics or engineering (force per unit area).
この材料は高い応力に耐えられる。
This material can withstand high stress.
Can also mean physical tension in muscles or strings. Context distinguishes from mental tension.
Sometimes used for physical stress on the body, but less precise than 応力 in technical contexts.
Refer to the emphasis placed on a syllable or word when speaking.
Linguistic term for stress or accent in pronunciation.
英語では単語の強勢の位置が重要だ。
In English, the position of word stress is important.
Commonly used for pitch accent or stress in everyday language learning contexts.
General term for emphasis, can be used for stressing a point or word.
Express the act of stressing the importance of something.
The most direct verb for 'to stress' or 'to emphasize'.
安全の重要性を強調した。
I stressed the importance of safety.
To argue or assert forcefully, stressing a point with conviction.
彼は改革の必要性を力説した。
He stressed the need for reform.
ストレス is a broad term for ongoing mental stress. 緊張 is acute nervousness or tension (e.g., before a speech). プレッシャー is external pressure from expectations or demands. Use ストレス for general life stress, 緊張 for situational anxiety, and プレッシャー when someone is putting pressure on you.
仕事のストレスで眠れない。
I can't sleep because of work stress.
人前で話すときは緊張する。
I get nervous when speaking in public.
上司からのプレッシャーがきつい。
The pressure from my boss is intense.
In engineering or physics, 'stress' should be translated as 応力, not ストレス. Using ストレス may cause confusion or sound unprofessional.
仕事でかなりストレスがたまっている。
I'm under a lot of stress at work.
彼女は時間厳守の必要性を強調した。
She stressed the need for punctuality.
その橋は高い応力に耐えられる。
The bridge can handle high stress.
筋肉の緊張をほぐすマッサージ。
A massage to relieve muscle tension.
腰にストレスがかからない姿勢をとる。
Adopt a posture that doesn't put stress on your lower back.
The stress of this word is on the first syllable.
彼は「絶対に」という言葉を強調した。
He stressed the word 'absolutely'.