urayamashii-vs-shittosuru

Have you ever watched someone get praised and felt a pang of longing — or maybe something sharper? Japanese has two words that cover this emotional territory: うらやましい (urayamashii) and 嫉妬する (shitto suru). They both relate to wanting what someone else has, but the difference in tone and intensity can make or break your Japanese conversation.

Yuka

Rei, I saw my coworker get a promotion today. I feel… something. Is it うらやましい or 嫉妬?

Rei

Great question! うらやましい is envy in a wistful, admiring way — like “I wish I had that too.” 嫉妬する is stronger: jealousy with a competitive or even resentful edge. Context and intensity matter a lot here!

At a Glance: うらやましい vs 嫉妬する

うらやましい (Urayamashii) — Wistful Envy

うらやましい is an い-adjective expressing a gentle, often admiring form of envy. You see something good that another person has, and you wish you had it too — but without hostility. It’s the feeling of “lucky them!” mixed with “I wish that were me.”

▶ 彼女の才能がうらやましい
Kanojo no sainou ga urayamashii.
I envy her talent. / I wish I had her talent.

▶ 海外旅行できてうらやましいなあ。
Kaigai ryokou dekite urayamashii naa.
I envy you for being able to travel abroad.

▶ あなたの新しいアパートがうらやましい！
Anata no atarashii apaato ga urayamashii!
I envy your new apartment!

Yuka

So うらやましい is like… a compliment mixed with longing? I say it when I admire someone?

Rei

Exactly! It’s quite common and natural to say to friends. “うらやましい！” even comes across as a light compliment — you’re acknowledging they have something great.

嫉妬する (Shitto Suru) — Jealousy with an Edge

嫉妬する comes from the noun 嫉妬（しっと）, meaning “jealousy” or “envy,” and uses する to become a verb. It conveys a stronger, more negative emotion — one that often involves a sense of threat, rivalry, or possessiveness. You might feel this in romantic relationships, competitive settings, or when someone’s success feels like it diminishes you.

▶ 彼氏が他の女の子と話していて、嫉妬してしまった。
Kareshi ga hoka no onna no ko to hanashite ite, shitto shite shimatta.
I got jealous when my boyfriend was talking to another girl.

▶ 同僚の昇進に嫉妬する気持ちは正直ある。
Douryou no shoushin ni shitto suru kimochi wa shoujiki aru.
Honestly, I do feel jealous about my colleague’s promotion.

▶ 嫉妬は人間の自然な感情だと思う。
Shitto wa ningen no shizen na kanjou da to omou.
I think jealousy is a natural human emotion.

Yuka

I see — 嫉妬する feels heavier. Like something you might be a little embarrassed to admit?

Rei

Exactly right! うらやましい you can say openly and cheerfully. 嫉妬する carries more weight — you’d usually admit it only to close friends or in reflection.

Common Mistakes

Side-by-Side Comparison

Nuance Deep-Dive: The Spectrum of Envy in Japanese

Japanese actually has a rich vocabulary for envy. うらやましい sits at the lighter, more socially acceptable end — it is often spoken out loud without social risk. 嫉妬する occupies a darker emotional space. There is also ひがむ (higamu), which implies a chip-on-the-shoulder bitterness, and ねたむ (netamu), another word for jealousy with a resentful undertone similar to 嫉妬する but slightly more literary.

Understanding this spectrum helps you express emotional nuance in Japanese that goes beyond textbook vocabulary. Native speakers will notice and appreciate the precision.

Decision Flowchart

Are you expressing a feeling about someone else's good fortune?
         |
         v
Is the feeling warm/admiring, like "lucky them!"?
  YES → うらやましい ✅
  NO  ↓
Is it competitive, possessive, or resentful?
  YES → 嫉妬する ✅
Is it romantic jealousy (partner-related)?
  → 嫉妬する ✅ (almost always)

Quick Quiz

Yuka

Rei, can I test myself? I want to make sure I understand the difference!

Rei

Of course! Fill in the blank with うらやましい or 嫉妬する (conjugated as needed).

Q1. My friend got to go to Hokkaido for free. ___！
Answer: うらやましい！

Q2. She ___ when she saw her boyfriend with his ex.
Answer: 嫉妬した (shitto shita)

Q3. Your new car is so ___！
Answer: うらやましい！

Q4. He felt ___ when his rival got all the credit.
Answer: 嫉妬した

Q5. “I ___ your lifestyle” — said casually to a friend with a relaxed job.
Answer: うらやましい

＼ Learn Japanese with a personal native teacher!／

あわせて読みたい

あわせて読みたい

suki-vskirai Two of the first Japanese words learners pick up are すき (suki) and きらい (kirai) — "like" and "dislike." They seem straightforward at first, but these wor...

あわせて読みたい

tokui-vs-nigate When a Japanese person asks 「得意なことは何ですか？」 (Tokui na koto wa nan desu ka?), they are asking what you are good at — a very common question in self...