Two of the most important emotion words in Japanese are 悩み (nayami) and 心配 (shinpai). Both relate to negative feelings about problems or difficult situations, and both are often translated as “worry” in English — but they are not interchangeable. Knowing exactly when to use each one will make your Japanese sound much more natural and help you express your true feelings with precision. This guide explains the key differences with examples.
YukaRei, my teacher mentioned 悩み and 心配 today. What’s the difference?
ReiGreat question! Both come up a lot in everyday Japanese. The trick is knowing which context calls for which — let me show you!
At a Glance: 悩み vs. 心配
| Feature | 悩み (nayami) | 心配 (shinpai) |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Worry / trouble / personal problem | Worry / anxiety / concern for someone/something |
| Nuance | An ongoing personal problem you wrestle with | Anxiety or concern — often about others or future events |
| Focus | The problem itself, something you are stuck on | The feeling of anxiety; caring about an outcome |
| Verb form | 悩む (nayamu) — to worry / be troubled | 心配する (shinpai suru) — to worry / be concerned |
| Typical subjects | Personal issues (work, relationships, life choices) | Others’ wellbeing, uncertain future events |
| JLPT level | N3 | N4 |
悩み — A Personal Problem or Ongoing Worry
悩み (nayami) is a noun from the verb 悩む (nayamu — to be troubled, to agonize over). It describes a personal problem, trouble, or worry that you are struggling with — something that weighs on your mind because you cannot easily solve it. The focus is on the problem itself, not just the feeling.
悩み tends to describe internal struggles: relationship issues, career decisions, personal dilemmas. When Japanese people talk about their 悩み, they mean something they are genuinely stuck on or wrestling with over time. 悩み相談 (nayami soudan) — “advice on personal problems” — is a very common phrase in magazines and counseling contexts.
Example 1 — personal problem:
最近、仕事のことで悩んでいる。
Saikin, shigoto no koto de nayande iru.
Lately, I have been troubled about work.
Example 2 — sharing a problem:
悩みを聞いてくれてありがとう。
Nayami wo kiite kurete arigatou.
Thank you for listening to my problems.
Example 3 — a life dilemma:
進路について悩んでいる。
Shinro ni tsuite nayande iru.
I am struggling over what direction to take in life.
YukaI see… so context really matters with 悩み? It’s not just about the literal meaning?
ReiRight! Japanese often works that way. 悩み especially has nuances that go beyond a direct translation — keep that in mind.
心配 — Worry / Concern / Anxiety
心配 (shinpai) describes the feeling of worry, concern, or anxiety — often directed toward others or toward uncertain future events. The focus is on the emotional state of anxiety, not necessarily the problem itself. 心配する (shinpai suru) is one of the most common expressions in Japanese for “to worry.”
心配 frequently appears when someone worries about another person’s wellbeing, an upcoming situation, or something they cannot control. It is also used to reassure someone: 心配しないで (shinpai shinaide) — “don’t worry.”
Example 1 — worrying about someone else:
母は私のことをいつも心配している。
Haha wa watashi no koto wo itsumo shinpai shite iru.
My mother always worries about me.
Example 2 — reassuring someone:
心配しないで。きっとうまくいくよ。
Shinpai shinaide. Kitto umaku iku yo.
Don’t worry. I’m sure it will work out.
Example 3 — concern about an event:
試験のことが心配で、昨日あまり眠れなかった。
Shiken no koto ga shinpai de, kinou amari nemurenakatta.
I was so worried about the exam that I couldn’t sleep much last night.
YukaGot it. And 心配 — is that the opposite, or more like a different usage?
ReiMore of a different usage! 心配 carries its own feel. Comparing them together like this is actually the fastest way to master both.
The Key Difference: Stuck on a Problem vs. Feeling Anxious
The most useful way to remember the difference: 悩み is the problem; 心配 is the feeling of anxiety.
You can have a 悩み (a problem you are stuck on) AND feel 心配 (anxiety) about the same situation — but they are different aspects of it. 悩み is more internal and personal, often long-term. 心配 is more about concern and anxiety, often directed outward at others or at an uncertain outcome.
| Situation | 悩み / 悩む | 心配 / 心配する |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t decide which job to take | ✓ 仕事のことで悩んでいる | △ (less natural for personal dilemma) |
| Worried about a friend who is sick | △ (not a personal problem) | ✓ 友達のことが心配 |
| Struggling with a relationship issue | ✓ 恋愛の悩み | △ (feels incomplete) |
| Anxious about exam results | — | ✓ 試験結果が心配 |
| Advising someone on their problem | ✓ 悩み相談 | — |
| Telling someone not to worry | — | ✓ 心配しないで |
Decision Flowchart
Are you expressing a negative feeling about a problem or situation?
|
v
Is it a PERSONAL PROBLEM you are stuck on / wrestling with?
| |
YES NO
| |
v v
悩み / 悩む Is it ANXIETY or CONCERN about someone or something?
(a problem | |
you are YES NO
struggling | |
with) v v
心配 / 心配する Consider:
(worry/anxiety 不安 (fuan) = unease, anxiety
about others ストレス (sutoresu) = stress
or outcomes)Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!
YukaI think I’ve finally got it! Let’s take the quiz to be sure.
ReiPerfect confidence check! Let’s go — you’ve got this!
Choose 悩み/悩む or 心配/心配する for each sentence.
Q1. I can’t stop worrying about my child’s health.
子供の健康のことが___でしかたない。
Kodomo no kenkou no koto ga ___ de shikata nai.
Answer: 心配 (shinpai)
Reason: Concern for another person’s wellbeing — 心配 is correct.
Q2. My biggest problem right now is choosing a career path.
今の一番の___は進路のことだ。
Ima no ichiban no ___ wa shinro no koto da.
Answer: 悩み (nayami)
Reason: A personal problem you are wrestling with — 悩み is correct.
Q3. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.
___しないで。きっと大丈夫だよ。
___ shinaide. Kitto daijoubu da yo.
Answer: 心配 (shinpai)
Reason: 心配しないで (don’t worry) is a fixed expression — 心配 is correct.
Q4. She has been struggling over whether to tell him the truth.
彼女は本当のことを言うべきか___ている。
Kanojo wa hontou no koto wo iu beki ka ___ te iru.
Answer: 悩ん (nayande)
Reason: She is stuck on a personal dilemma — 悩んでいる is correct.
Q5. I’m worried about whether the meeting will go well tomorrow.
明日の会議がうまくいくか___だ。
Ashita no kaigi ga umaku iku ka ___ da.
Answer: 心配 (shinpai)
Reason: Anxiety about an uncertain future event — 心配 is correct.
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あわせて読みたい
Want to explore more Japanese emotion and social vocabulary? Check out our guide on めんどう vs. めいわく:
Also explore the difference between あんぜん and きけん — essential safety vocabulary in Japanese:
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