Skip to content
Kotomora

悩

trouble, worry, in pain, distress, illness

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ノウ

Kun'yomi

  • なや.む
  • なや.ます
  • なや.ましい
  • なやみ

Meaning

悩 centers on mental or emotional distress: being troubled, worried, or in pain. The illness sense is a natural extension of this inner suffering.

Most common words using 悩

20 of 30
  • 悩むなやむ
    N3

    to be worried; to be troubled

  • 悩みなやみ
    N2

    trouble; troubles; worry; distress; sorrows; anguish; agony; problem

  • 悩ますなやます
    N1

    to afflict; to torment; to harass; to molest

  • 苦悩くのう
    N1

    (mental) agony; anguish; suffering; distress

  • 悩ましいなやましい
    N1

    seductive; carnal; enchanting

  • 煩悩ぼんのう

    worldly desires; evil passions; appetites of the flesh

  • 悩殺のうさつ

    fascinate; bewitch; enchant

  • 思い悩むおもいなやむ

    to worry about; to be worried about; to fret about; to not know what to do; to be at a loss (as to what to do)

  • 伸び悩むのびなやむ

    to be sluggish; to make little progress; to show little growth; to fail to improve; to level off; to not grow as much as expected

  • 悩み事なやみごと

    matter causing distress; something causing worry

  • 子煩悩こぼんのう

    doting (on one's children); (overly) fond; indulgent; loving

  • 恋の悩みこいのなやみ

    pain of love; love troubles

  • 悩ましげなやましげ

    anxious (appearance); (appearing) uneasy

  • 悩みに悩むなやみになやむ

    to worry oneself sick

  • 悩みの種なやみのたね

    source of worry; source of distress

  • 悩みを抱えるなやみをかかえる

    to have troubles; to have concerns

  • 悩めるなやめる

    worried; troubled; afflicted

  • 悩乱のうらん

    worry; anguish

  • 憂い悩むうれいなやむ

    to be grievously troubled

  • 懊悩おうのう

    anguish; trouble; agony

Explore all words using 悩 →

Study

Etymology

悩 combines 忄 (heart/mind) with 凶, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of something ominous or distressing. The exact historical development of the top element is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The heart radical 忄 beside the ominous shape 凶 suggests a mind troubled by bad omens. Picture a worried heart weighed down by dark thoughts.

Reading mnemonic

For ノウ, imagine a troubled person saying 'No!' to their worries: 'No!' -> ノウ, as they try to push away the distress.