気がします
ki ga shimasu
In Japanese, "I feel like" is translated as 気がします (ki ga shimasu).
気がします is used to express an intuition, a hunch or a vague sensation rather than a concrete, proven fact.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 気が (ki ga), meaning 'spirit' or 'feeling' and します (shimasu), the polite form of the verb 'to do'. Literally, it means 'feeling/spirit does/is done'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you had a feeling or a hunch in the past, use the past tense 気がしました. To express that you do not have a certain feeling or hunch, use the negative form 気がしません.
How do you pronounce it?
ki ga shimasu
Did you know?
- Because it implies a lack of certainty, Japanese speakers often use 気がします to be more polite. It softens a statement so you do not sound too assertive or confrontational.
- The word ki in 気がします is the same word used in ki-ken 'danger' and ki-bun 'mood'. It represents a conceptual 'energy' that permeates everything in Japanese culture.
- There is a related expression 気がつく (ki ga tsuku) which means 'to notice'. While 気がします is a vague hunch, 気がつく is the moment that hunch becomes a concrete realization.
Examples in context
- なんだかめまいと吐き気がします。I feel sort of dizzy and I feel like throwing up.This sentence is useful for expressing physical sensations like dizziness and nausea with 気がします.Tatoeba #198954 by bunbuku, translation #36151 by CK
- 「表現の自由」が侵害されているような気がします。I feel like the right to freedom of speech is being encroached on.This sentence shows how to use 気がします to express a hunch about freedom of speech.Tatoeba #11851686 by small_snow, translation #12134339 by end
- この文はたぶん翻訳しない方がいい文だという気がします。I feel like this sentence is probably better left untranslated.This sentence illustrates using 気がします to express an intuition about a sentence translation.Tatoeba #10070293 by small_snow, translation #10573689 by auxitt
- 映画を見たい。I feel like watching a movie.
- アイスクリームが欲しい。I feel like having ice cream.
- 遊びたいな。I feel like having fun.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are talking about the weather before leaving the house.
- 美咲 Misaki今日は午後から雨が降る気がします。Kyō wa gogo kara ame ga furu ki ga shimasu.I feel like it will rain this afternoon.
- 蓮 Ren本当だ。空が暗くなってきたね。Hontō da. Sora ga kuraku natte kita ne.You're right. The sky is getting dark.
- 美咲 Misaki傘を持って行ったほうがいい気がします。Kasa o motte itta hō ga ii ki ga shimasu.I feel like it would be better to take an umbrella.
- 蓮 Renそうだね。僕が持っていくよ。Sō da ne. Boku ga motte iku yo.True. I'll take one.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
