Translation guide
The feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. In Japanese, this is often expressed with specific nouns, adjectives, or descriptive phrases.
The emotional state of being in suspense, such as while watching a thriller or waiting for important news.
A situation where the outcome is unknown and people are waiting anxiously.
ハラハラ emphasizes anxiety and worry about an outcome, while ドキドキ focuses on the physical sensation of a pounding heart from excitement or nervousness. Use ハラハラ for suspenseful worry and ドキドキ for thrilling excitement.
I watched over it anxiously.
The suspense is killing me.
Loanword from English, commonly used for the genre or feeling of suspense in movies, novels, etc.
This movie is full of suspense.
Mimetic word for the feeling of being on edge, nervous, or in suspense, often used with する.
I was on edge worrying about the game's outcome.
Mimetic word for heart-pounding excitement or nervousness, often used for suspenseful or thrilling moments.
My heart was pounding until I found out who the culprit was.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'gripping with sweaty palms,' used to describe a suspenseful or thrilling experience.
It was a suspenseful development.
Phrase meaning 'unable to calm down' or 'on pins and needles,' expressing anxious suspense.
I was on pins and needles until I knew the result.
Literally 'feeling of tension,' often used to describe a suspenseful atmosphere.
There was a sense of suspense in the venue.
Verb meaning to be impatient or fretful while waiting in suspense.
I'm in suspense waiting for a reply.
Passive form of じらす (to tease/keep in suspense), meaning to be kept in suspense deliberately.
He always keeps me in suspense.
ドキドキしながら告白を待った。
I waited for the confession with my heart pounding.
Avoid directly translating 'suspense' as サスペンス in all contexts. While common for genres, using mimetic words like ハラハラ or phrases like 手に汗握る often sounds more natural for describing personal feelings.
I can't stand the suspense.