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.
彼は長い間、心の苦しみに耐えた。
He endured mental torment for a long time.
Emphasizes physical or mental pain, often more intense or clinical than 苦しみ.
その病気は激しい苦痛を伴う。
The illness involves severe torment.
Literary or dramatic word for torture or extreme torment, often with a sense of being inflicted.
地獄の責め苦
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.
その記憶が彼を苦しめた。
The memory tormented him.
罪悪感が彼女を苦しめている。
Guilt is tormenting her.
Causative form of 悩む (to worry). Means to cause worry or distress, often for ongoing mental torment.
将来のことが彼を悩ませている。
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.
彼はいつも変な質問で私を困らせる。
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.
彼はしつこく私を悩ました。
He tormented me persistently.
To express that one is suffering or being tormented by a specific cause.
Intransitive verb meaning to suffer, be tormented, or be afflicted. Often used with に to indicate the cause.
彼は孤独に苦しんでいる。
He is tormented by loneliness.
To worry, be troubled, or be tormented by a problem. Focuses on mental distress.
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.
病気が彼を苦しめた。
Illness tormented him.
お金の問題が彼を悩ませている。
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.
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.
She is tormented by relationship issues.