Translation guide
The English word "torment" covers both physical and mental suffering, as well as the act of causing it. This guide helps learners express these ideas naturally in Japanese, from everyday annoyance to intense anguish.
To describe a state of intense pain, anguish, or agony.
General word for suffering, pain, or anguish. Can be physical or mental.
He endured mental torment for a long time.
Emphasizes physical or mental pain, often more intense or clinical than 苦しみ.
The illness involves severe torment.
Literary or dramatic word for torture or extreme torment, often with a sense of being inflicted.
the torments of hell
To describe the act of making someone feel anguish, worry, or distress.
Transitive verb meaning to torment, afflict, or cause suffering. Commonly used for both mental and physical torment.
The memory tormented him.
Causative form of 悩む (to worry). Means to cause worry or distress, often for ongoing mental torment.
Thoughts of the future are tormenting him.
To torment, torture, or gnaw at someone's mind. Stronger and more literary than 苦しめる.
To describe bothering someone repeatedly, often in a less severe but irritating way.
To cause trouble or annoyance. Often used when someone's actions are a nuisance.
He always torments me with weird questions.
To bully, tease, or torment, especially in a social context. Can range from mild teasing to serious harassment.
To pester or torment persistently. しつこい means persistent or insistent.
He tormented me persistently.
To express that one is suffering or being tormented by a specific cause.
苦しめる is broader and can be physical or mental, while 悩ませる is specifically about causing worry or mental distress. Use 苦しめる for intense suffering, and 悩ませる for ongoing anxiety.
Illness tormented him.
Money problems are tormenting him.
Avoid directly translating 'torment' as a noun in all contexts. While 苦しみ and 苦痛 work, English often uses 'torment' where Japanese prefers a verb phrase like 苦しんでいる or 悩まされている.
Guilt is tormenting her.
後悔の念が彼を苛んだ。
Regret tormented him.
弟はよく私をいじめる。
My little brother often torments me.
彼女は人間関係に悩んでいる。
She is tormented by relationship issues.