Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 心の | kokoro no | |
| 精神的 | seishinteki | [se̞ːɕĩnte̞kʲi] (narrow) |
To describe things relating to the mind, you can use 精神的 for formal, psychological or clinical contexts, such as mental health. For more personal, emotional or poetic expressions regarding feelings or the heart, use 心の. In informal settings, one might use 頭の中 (literally 'inside the head') to refer to thoughts or 気持ち悪い to describe a sense of mental unease or an icky feeling. Other related terms include 心理的 for 'psychological' and 内面 for one's 'inner self'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 精神的 is composed of 精神, meaning 'spirit' or 'mind' and the suffix 的, which turns a noun into an adjective.
Which one should you use?
精神的 is used for formal, psychological or academic contexts like 'mental state'. In contrast, 心の is used for personal or emotional expressions relating to the heart or mind.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 心の uses the particle の to function as an adjective meaning 'of the heart' or 'mental'.
How do you pronounce it?
kokoro no
Did you know?
- To describe a 'mental breakdown' or 'snapping', Japanese speakers often use the phrase 精神的に参る (seishinteki ni mairu), where 参る literally means 'to arrive' or 'to go'.
- In Japanese sports culture, the word メンタル (mentaru) is used as a noun to describe a person's 'mental toughness' or resilience under pressure.
- The word 精神 (seishin) contains the character for 'spirit', which shares its roots with concepts of 'divine' or 'supernatural' rather than just clinical psychology.
Examples in context
- 精神的な健康も大切です。Mental health is also important.This sentence is useful for discussing the importance of mental health using 精神的.Tatoeba #8468428 by Sim5634, translation #8468430 by CM
- このような場合、大人はすぐに叱るのではなく、子供たちの精神的成長を見守りながら、忍耐強く待つべきである。In such cases, adults should not scold them instantly, but be patient with them, considering their mental growth.This sentence shows how to use 精神的 when discussing the mental growth of children.Tatoeba #223087 by KK_kaku_, translation #60418 by papabear
- 彼女は 心理的 なサポートが必要です。She needs mental support.
- 彼の 内面 の闘争に気づくことは重要です。It is important to notice the mental struggle within him.
- 彼は 精神的 に疲れている。He is mentally tired.
- 心の健康を保つのは難しいです。Kokoro no kenkō o tamotsu no wa muzukashii desu.Maintaining mental health is difficult.
Example conversation
A cafe where two friends are discussing stress.
- 結衣 Yui最近、仕事が忙しくて心の余裕がありません。Saikin, shigoto ga isogashikute kokoro no yoyū ga arimasen.Lately, I'm so busy with work that I have no mental peace.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さんは無理をしすぎですよ。Yui-san wa muri o shisugi desu yo.Yui, you are pushing yourself too hard.
- 結衣 Yui蓮さんに相談してよかったです。Ren-san ni sōdan shite yokatta desu.I'm glad I talked to you, Ren.
- 蓮 Renたまにはゆっくり休んでくださいね。Tama ni wa yukkuri yasunde kudasai ne.Please make sure to take a good rest sometimes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mental” translations and entries 精神的, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
