緊張している
kinchou shite iru
To say nervous in Japanese, use 緊張している (kinchou shite iru).
The phrase is used to describe being apprehensive or anxious. While 緊張している describes the state of being nervous, the verb form 緊張する is used to describe the act of getting nervous or feeling tension.
Meaning: apprehensive, anxious (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is built from the noun 緊張, which means tension or nervousness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
緊張している is an informal phrase that can be translated as to be tense. For a polite version, use 緊張しています.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 緊張している uses the continuous form of the verb 緊張する to describe a current state of being nervous.
How do you pronounce it?
kinchou shite iru
When do people say it?
Among friends, the phrase doki doki suru is used to express the fluttering sensation felt when one is nervous.
Did you know?
- Japanese people often use the phrase 心臓が口から出そう to describe extreme nervousness, which means 'it feels like my heart is about to jump out of my mouth'.
- In a professional Japanese context, admitting you are 緊張している can sometimes be viewed as a sign of humility and sincerity rather than a lack of confidence.
- The word 緊張 uses the character 張, which relates to stretching or expanding, much like a bowstring. This reinforces the idea that being nervous is like being stretched tight.
Examples in context
- トムは少し緊張しているようだ。Tom seems a little nervous.This sentence shows how to use 緊張している to describe how someone seems to feel.Tatoeba #2129966 by bunbuku, translation #1867927 by CK
- 犯罪者は緊張している。The criminal is nervous.This sentence uses 緊張している to describe a person's state.Tatoeba #772967 by marloncori, translation #898392 by Scott
- 彼とのデートに行く前、私はドキドキしました。Before going on a date with him, I felt nervous.
- 面接の前はいつも緊張しているんだ。I'm always nervous before interviews.
- 明日のプレゼンを前に、彼は緊張している。Ashita no purezen o mae ni, kare wa kinchou shite iru.He is nervous before tomorrow's presentation.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Yui are waiting for a presentation to start.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、すごく緊張している？Yui, sugoku kinchou shite iru?Yui, are you really nervous?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、心臓がドキドキしているよ。Un, shinzou ga dokidoki shite iru yo.Yeah, my heart is pounding.
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫だよ。リラックスしてね。Daijoubu da yo. Rirakkusu shite ne.It'll be okay. Just relax.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう、大翔。Arigatou, Hiroto.Thanks, Hiroto.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
