Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 心 | kokoro | [ko̞ko̞ɾo̞] (narrow) [ɯ̟ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| 精神 | seishin | [se̞ːɕĩɴ] (narrow) |
| 知性 | chisei | [t͡ɕi̥se̞ː] (narrow) |
The term for 'mind' in Japanese depends on whether you are referring to emotions, psychological faculties or intellectual capacity. While 心 is used, it often carries the connotation of the heart or the seat of emotions. To express the specific capacity for rational thought and intellectual reasoning, 知性 is the most accurate term. Additionally, the concept of 'making up one's mind' is idiomatically expressed using 決心, which literally means 'deciding the heart/mind'.
Which one should you use?
心 (kokoro) primarily refers to the heart, spirit or emotions rather than purely rational intellect. In contrast, 精神 (seishin) is used for the mind in a more formal, psychological, medical or philosophical sense, such as when discussing the psyche or mental health. Finally, 知性 (chisei) is the specific term used when 'mind' refers to intellect or intelligence.
How do you pronounce it?
kokoro
Did you know?
- The Japanese term 心 is a cognate of the word 浦, meaning 'inlet' or 'bay'.
Examples in context
- 私は決心した。I've made up my mind.This sentence is useful for expressing the act of making a decision using 心.Tatoeba #10908938 by Kaede, translation #31356 by CK
- 彼は決心を変えた。He changed his mind.This sentence shows how to express changing one's decision using 心.Tatoeba #107822 by bunbuku, translation #295863 by CK
- 安心してください。Set your mind at ease.This sentence demonstrates how to express emotional peace or easing the mind using 心.Tatoeba #191329 by bunbuku, translation #28491 by CM
- 気味が悪い。I have a bad feeling.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are talking about the importance of mental health.
- 大翔 Hiroto心と体の健康はどちらも大切だね。Kokoro to karada no kenkō wa dochira mo taisetsu da ne.Both the health of the mind and body are important, aren't they?
- 結衣 Yuiそうだね。心がつかれることもあるし。Sō da ne. Kokoro ga tsukareru koto mo aru shi.I agree. The mind can get tired too.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣は最近、心に余裕がある？Yui wa saikin, kokoro ni yoyū ga aru?Yui, do you have some peace of mind lately?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、今はとても穏やかな心で過ごしているよ。Un, ima wa totemo odayakana kokoro de sugoshite iru yo.Yes, I'm spending my time with a very calm mind now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mind” translations and entries 心, 精神, 知性, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 心, 知性, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
