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気がかり (きがかり) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

気きがかり

き

が

か

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

worry; anxiety; concern

Describes a lingering uneasy feeling about something; often used when something is on one's mind. Functions as both a noun and a na-adjective.

彼かれの健けん康こうが気きがかりだ。
I'm worried about his health.
試し験けんの結けっ果かが

気き

がかり

で

眠ねむ

れ

なかっ

た

。

I couldn't sleep because I was anxious about the exam results.

Written forms

気きがかりUsage83%
Standard spelling; the most common written form.
気き掛がかりUsage11%
Alternative kanji form using 掛.
気き懸がかりUsage4%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
気き掛がかりUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant; not recommended for active use.
気き懸がかり
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form with 懸.

Kanji

気spirit, mind, air
掛hang, suspend, depend
懸state of suspension, hang, depend

Similar words

心しん配ぱい
心配 is a more general and common word for worry or concern, often used as a suru-verb. 気がかり emphasizes a persistent, nagging feeling that something is on one's mind.
不ふ安あん
不安 is a stronger, more abstract feeling of anxiety or unease, often without a specific object. 気がかり is usually tied to a particular matter.

Etymology

Compound of 気 (ki, 'mind, spirit') and 掛かり (kakari, 'hanging, being attached'), from the verb 掛かる (kakaru, 'to hang, to be attached'). Literally 'something hanging on one's mind'.