Emotions Vocabulary — Japanese N1

Essential Japanese vocabulary for feelings, moods, personality, mental states. N1 level reference with readings, romaji, and examples.

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Emotions Vocabulary — JLPT N1

At the N1 level, vocabulary regarding emotions shifts from basic feelings (happy, sad) to nuanced psychological states, complex interpersonal dynamics, and abstract mental conditions. Mastering these terms is essential for reading contemporary Japanese literature, understanding news editorials, and engaging in sophisticated professional or academic discussions about human behavior.

Core Vocabulary

Japanese Reading Romaji English Part of Speech
鬱屈 鬱屈うっくつ ukkutsu gloom, melancholy Noun/Suru-verb
恍惚 恍惚こうこつ kōkotsu ecstasy, trance Noun/Na-adj
憤慨 憤慨ふんがい fungai indignation, resentment Noun/Suru-verb
疎外感 疎外感そがいかん sogaikan sense of alienation Noun
羞恥心 羞恥心しゅうちしん shūchishin sense of shame Noun
哀愁 哀愁あいしゅう aishū pathos, sorrow Noun
執着 執着しゅうちゃく shūchaku attachment, obsession Noun/Suru-verb
陶酔 陶酔とうすい tōsui intoxication, being captivated Noun/Suru-verb
懸念 懸念けねん kenen anxiety, concern Noun/Suru-verb
焦燥 焦燥しょうそう shōsō impatience, fretfulness Noun
屈辱 屈辱くつじょく kutsujoku humiliation, disgrace Noun
羨望 羨望せんぼう senbō envy Noun/Suru-verb
困惑 困惑こんわく konwaku bewilderment, perplexity Noun/Suru-verb
嫌悪 嫌悪けんお ken'o disgust, detestation Noun/Suru-verb
郷愁 郷愁きょうしゅう kyōshū nostalgia Noun
達観 達観たっかん takkan broad-mindedness, perspective Noun/Suru-verb
傲慢 傲慢ごうまん gōman arrogance, haughtiness Na-adj
卑屈 卑屈ひくつ hikutsu servility, meanness Na-adj
衝動 衝動しょうどう shōdō impulse Noun
虚無感 虚無感きょむかん kyomukan sense of emptiness/nihilism Noun
懊悩 懊悩おうのう ōnō agony, anguish Noun/Suru-verb
歓喜 歓喜かんき kanki delight, great joy Noun/Suru-verb
憤怒 憤怒ふんぬ funnu rage, wrath Noun
躊躇 躊躇ちゅうちょ chūcho hesitation Noun/Suru-verb
猜疑心 猜疑心さいぎしん saigishin suspicion, distrust Noun
没頭 没頭ぼっとう bottō immersion, absorption Noun/Suru-verb
執念 執念しゅうねん shūnen tenacity, obsession Noun
困窮 困窮こんきゅう konkyū distress, poverty Noun/Suru-verb
軽蔑 軽蔑けいべつ keibetsu contempt, scorn Noun/Suru-verb
畏怖 畏怖いふ ifu awe, dread Noun/Suru-verb
渇望 渇望かつぼう katsubō craving, thirst for Noun/Suru-verb
困惑 困惑こんわく konwaku bewilderment Noun/Suru-verb
放心 放心ほうしん hōshin absent-mindedness Noun/Suru-verb
激昂 激昂げきこう gekikō excitement, fury Noun/Suru-verb
憐憫 憐憫れんびん renbin pity, compassion Noun
羞恥 羞恥しゅうち shūchi shame, embarrassment Noun
憤り 憤りいきどおり ikidōri resentment, indignation Noun
憧憬 憧憬しょうけい shōkei yearning, longing Noun/Suru-verb
悲観 悲観ひかん hikan pessimism Noun/Suru-verb
楽観 楽観らっかん rakkan optimism Noun/Suru-verb

Key Phrases

  1. 憤慨ふんがいの念ねんを禁きんじ得えない | Fungai no nen o kinji enai | Cannot help but feel indignant.
  2. 疎外感そがいかんを覚おぼえる | Sogaikan o oboeru | To feel a sense of alienation.
  3. 執着しゅうちゃくを捨すてる | Shūchaku o suteru | To let go of one's obsession/attachment.
  4. 困惑こんわくを隠かくせない | Konwaku o kakusenai | Cannot hide one's bewilderment.
  5. 達観たっかんした態度たいど | Takkan shita taido | A philosophical/broad-minded attitude.
  6. 猜疑心さいぎしんが強つよい | Saigishin ga tsuyoi | To be highly suspicious/distrustful.
  7. 哀愁あいしゅうを帯おびた表情ひょうじょう | Aishū o obita hyōjō | A melancholic expression.
  8. 衝動しょうどうに駆かられる | Shōdō ni kareru | To be driven by an impulse.
  9. 軽蔑けいべつの眼差まなざし | Keibetsu no manazashi | A look of contempt.
  10. 渇望かつぼうのあまり | Katsubō no amari | Out of extreme craving/longing.

Practice Dialogue

A: 最近、仕事に対して虚無感きょむかんを覚おぼえるんだ。 (Saikin, shigoto ni taishite kyomukan o oboeru nda. / Lately, I feel a sense of emptiness regarding my work.) B: それは深刻しんこくだね。何か原因げんいんがあるの？ (Sore wa shinkoku da ne. Nanika gen'in ga aru no? / That’s serious. Is there a cause?) A: 成果せいかを求もとめる執着しゅうちゃくに疲つかれてしまったのかもしれない。 (Seika o motomeru shūchaku ni tsukarete shimatta no kamoshirenai. / Perhaps I’ve grown tired of my obsession with seeking results.) B: 達観たっかんして、少し休やすんでみたらどう？ (Takkan shite, sukoshi yasunde mitara dō? / Why don't you take a step back and rest a bit?) A: そうしたいけど、将来しょうらいへの懸念けねんが頭あたまから離はなれないんだ。 (Sō shitai kedo, shōrai e no kenen ga atama kara hanarenai nda. / I’d like to, but my anxiety about the future won't leave my mind.) B: 悲観ひかんしすぎるのはよくないよ。 (Hikan shisugiru no wa yokunai yo. / It’s not good to be too pessimistic.)

Self-Study Tips

  1. Contextual Reading: N1 vocabulary is best learned through literature. Read essays or novels by authors like Natsume Soseki or Haruki Murakami; they frequently use these psychological terms to describe character states.
  2. Synonym Grouping: Group words by intensity (e.g., fuman (dissatisfaction) → fungai (indignation) → funnu (rage)). This helps you choose the right word for the level of emotion you want to express.
  3. Journaling: Try writing a short paragraph daily using at least three of these words to describe your mental state. This forces you to move from passive recognition to active usage.
  4. Etymology Check: Many N1 words are Sino-Japanese compounds. Breaking down the kanji (e.g., 猜 sai = suspicion, 疑 gi = doubt) makes the meaning much easier to recall than rote memorization.