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懸念 (けねん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
concern ; worry ; anxiety ; fear
Formal noun or suru-verb expressing unease about a future event or situation. Often used in news, business, and official statements. The reading けんねん is an irregular variant and should be avoided by learners.
Concerns remain regarding safety.
Kanji 懸 state of suspension, hang, depend Similar words 心しん 配ぱい 心配 is the general, everyday word for worry or concern, used in both casual and formal settings. 懸念 is more formal and often implies a considered, public, or official unease rather than personal anxiety.
不ふ 安あん 不安 is a noun or na-adjective describing a feeling of anxiety or insecurity, often personal and emotional. 懸念 is more objective and situation-focused, used when pointing out a potential problem.
Etymology Compound of 懸 (hang, suspend, be concerned) and 念 (thought, feeling). The meaning 'to have a thought hanging over one' developed into 'concern, worry'.