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心細い (こころぼそい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
i-adjective
lonely ; helpless ; forlorn ; discouraging
Describes a feeling of anxiety and loneliness from lack of emotional support, hope, or reassurance. Often used when one feels isolated or uncertain about the future.
貯ちょ 金きん が 少すく なく て 、 将しょう 来らい が 心こころ 細ぼそ い 。
With so little savings, the future feels discouraging.
Written forms 心こころ 細ぼそ い Usage 95%
心こころ ぼそい Usage 4%
こころぼそい Usage 1%
Kana spelling is common when the kanji are not needed.
Similar words 心こころ 強づよ い 心強い means 'reassuring' or 'heartening', the opposite of 心細い. While 心細い expresses anxiety and lack of support, 心強い conveys confidence from having support.
寂さび しい 寂しい focuses on emotional loneliness or missing someone/something, while 心細い adds a nuance of helplessness and anxiety about the situation.
Etymology Compound of 心 (こころ, 'heart, mind') + 細い (ほそい, 'thin, narrow'). The literal sense of a 'thin heart' developed into the figurative meaning of feeling emotionally fragile, helpless, or forlorn.
