Japanese word

感慨

Pronunciation

Romajikangai

Meaning

  • noundeep emotion

Example

昔の写真を見て、感慨に浸ります。mukashi no sha shin o mi te kan gai ni hita ri ma su

I am filled with deep emotion as I look at old photos.

Illustration for 感慨 (deep emotion)

More examples

式典で恩師から祝辞を受け、感慨を覚えました。shiki ten de on shi ka ra shuku ji o u ke kan gai o obo e ma shi ta

Receiving a congratulatory speech from my mentor at the ceremony filled me with deep emotion.

Core concept

Describes a deep, reflective feeling that arises when an experience or memory takes on personal meaning.

Common phrases

  • 感慨に浸るkan gai ni hita ru

    be immersed in deep emotion

  • 感慨を抱くkan gai o ida ku

    feel deep emotion

Similar words

感動kandō: A strong emotional response to something that deeply moves the heart.
感激kangeki: A strong feeling of joy or gratitude caused by a meaningful event or kindness.
感無量kanmuryō: A feeling of being filled with deep emotion at a meaningful moment.

Definition in Japanese

過去の経験や出来事を思い返したときに、深く心を動かされて生じるしみじみとした感情。ka ko no kei ken ya de ki goto o omo i kae shi ta to ki ni fuka ku kokoro o ugo ka sa re te shō ji ru shi mi ji mi to shi ta kan jō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 感 (kan, "feeling") + 慨 (gai, "lament") combines to express strong emotion stirred by reflection.

Usage tips

  • In reflective Japanese speech, 感慨 (kangai) often describes emotion that comes from looking back on an experience, so it sounds more contemplative than a simple statement of being moved.

Other meanings

  • strong feelingsnoun

Related words

  • 感慨深いkangaibukaideeply movingi-adjective

Word lists with this word