Japanese word

緊張

Pronunciation

Romajikinchō

Meaning

nounnervousness

Example

初めての人と話すと緊張します。haji me te no hito to hana su to kin chō shi ma su

I get nervous when I talk to someone for the first time.

More examples

試験の結果を待つ間、緊張が続きました。shi ken no kek ka o ma tsu aida kin chō ga tsuzu ki ma shi ta

My nervousness continued while I waited for the test results.

Core concept

Describes a state in which the mind or body becomes taut and alert under pressure or expectation.

Common phrases

緊張するkin chō su ru
feel nervous
緊張を感じるkin chō o kan ji ru
feel nervous
緊張を和らげるkin chō o yawa ra ge ru
ease tension

Similar words

不安fuan: A worried feeling about an uncertain or unwanted result.
上がりagari: Nervousness that makes speaking or performing before others difficult.
気後れkiokure: A hesitant feeling caused by a lack of confidence in a social situation.

Definition in Japanese

心や体が張りつめ、落ち着かなくなる状態。kokoro ya karada ga ha ri tsu me o chi tsu ka na ku na ru jō tai

Word origin

緊 (kin, "tight") and 張 (chō, "stretch") combine to express the mind or body becoming tightly stretched.

Usage tips

In Japanese, 緊張 (kinchō) can describe both nervousness in a person and tension in a situation, so context determines the best English translation.

Other meanings

tensionnoun
stressnoun

Opposites

平静heiseicalmnessnoun

Related words

緊張感kinchōkansense of tensionnoun