ストレス
sutoresu[sɨ̥to̞ɾe̞sɨ]
The English word 'stress' is translated into Japanese as ストレス (sutoresu).
ストレス refers to emotional pressure. You can use it with various verbs to describe different sensations: use ストレスを感じる to say you feel stress, ストレスが溜まる to describe stress building up or accumulating over time and ストレスを解消する to express the act of relieving or resolving stress. While ストレス is the common term, there are other ways to express related feelings. For example, イライラ is an informal way to express frustration or irritation. In more formal contexts, you might use 心労 to refer to mental or emotional strain or 緊張感 to describe tension or anxiety.
Meaning: emotional pressure (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle used with ストレス depends on its role in the sentence. Use the particle が to mark it as the subject when describing a state where stress exists or is building up, such as in ストレスが溜まる. Use the particle を to mark it as the direct object when you are performing an action upon it, such as feeling or relieving stress.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sutoresu.
Did you know?
- In Japanese workplaces, the phrase ストレスチェック refers to a legally mandated annual mental health screening for employees in companies with over 50 staff.
- The term ストレス is used in Japanese to describe the physical irritation caused by a material, such as a rough fabric against the skin, not just emotional pressure.
- While ストレス is used for general pressure, the word プレッシャー is borrowed from 'pressure' and is used specifically for the stress of performance or expectations from others.
Examples in context
- ストレス発散に食べまくる。I eat a lot to de-stress.This sentence is useful for describing how one eats a lot to relieve ストレス.Tatoeba #11045107 by KK_kaku_, translation #11772345 by pip
- なんかストレスを抱えてるの？Are you under any stress?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is under any ストレス.Tatoeba #8816946 by bunbuku, translation #3820541 by CK
- ヨガはストレス軽減に役立つ。Yoga can help lower stress.This sentence is useful for stating how yoga helps with the reduction of ストレス.Tatoeba #12726688 by small_snow, translation #5077355 by Hybrid
- ストレスが溜まっていますI'm feeling stressed.
- 仕事にストレスを感じていますI feel stressed about work.
- 仕事がイライラするWork is frustrating me.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about work at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himari最近、仕事のストレスが溜まってない？Saikin, shigoto no sutoresu ga tamattenai?Have you been feeling a lot of work stress lately?
- 蓮 Renうん、ちょっとストレスを感じてるよ。Un, chotto sutoresu o kanjiteru yo.Yeah, I'm feeling a bit of stress.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、無理しすぎないでね。Ren-kun, muri shisuginaide ne.Ren, don't push yourself too hard.
- 蓮 Renありがとう、陽葵。気を付けるよ。Arigatou, Himari. Ki o tsukeru yo.Thanks, Himari. I'll be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stress” translations and entries ストレス, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
