心こころなしか

こ

ろ

な

し

か

Meanings

Expresses a vague, subjective impression that something seems a certain way, often without clear evidence. Used adverbially at the beginning of a clause.

心こころなしか、今日きょうはいつもより静しずかだ。
Somehow, it seems quieter than usual today.
心こころなしか、彼かれの顔かお色いろが悪わるいように見みえる。
He looks somewhat pale, or so it seems to me.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

心heart, mind, spirit
成turn into, become, get
做make

Related words

なんとなく
なんとなく is more about doing something without a clear reason or just because, while 心なしか focuses on a vague perception or impression.
気きのせいか
気のせいか explicitly suggests it might be one's imagination, whereas 心なしか is softer and simply notes a subtle feeling.

Written forms

心こころなしか
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
心こころ成なしか
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 成 suggests 'become' or 'turn out'.
心こころ做なしか
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 做 means 'do' or 'make'.

Etymology

Formed from 心做し, “one’s impression or feeling,” and the particle か. The phrase presents something as a subjective or uncertain impression.