N3 · 40 words

Feelings in set phrases

Fixed expressions for moods and attitudes, many of them built on one small word for the mind.

Japanese talks about moods largely through set phrases built on a few nouns — above all 気(き), roughly "mind" or "spirit", but also parts of the body: 腹(はら)が立(た)つ, literally "the belly stands up", means to be angry. Learn each phrase whole, with its particle. 気(き)にする (to worry about something) and 気(き)になる (to have something on your mind) differ by one verb and are not interchangeable: the first is something you do, the second something that happens to you.

The words

Verb (3)

ほっとするto feel relievedVerbN3

子供(こども)が無事(ぶじ)に帰(かえ)ってきて、ほっとしました。I was relieved when the child came home safely.

がっかりするto be disappointedVerbN3

楽(たの)しみにしていた旅行(りょこう)が中止(ちゅうし)になって、がっかりしました。I was disappointed when the trip I'd been looking forward to was cancelled.

うんざりするto be fed upVerbN3

毎日(まいにち)同(おな)じ話(はなし)を聞(き)かされて、うんざりしています。I'm fed up with being told the same story every day.

Noun (2)

やる気(き)motivation; the will to do somethingNounN3

先生(せんせい)に褒(ほ)められて、やる気(き)が出(で)てきました。Being praised by the teacher has made me want to try harder.

本気(ほんき)seriousness; in earnestNounN3

冗談(じょうだん)だと思(おも)ったら、彼(かれ)は本気(ほんき)でした。I thought he was joking, but he meant it.

i-adjective (1)

ばかばかしいridiculous; absurdi-adjectiveN3

こんなことで喧嘩(けんか)するなんて、ばかばかしい。Fighting over something like this is ridiculous.

Phrase (34)

仕方(しかた)がないit can't be helpedPhraseN3

電車(でんしゃ)が止(と)まったのだから、遅(おく)れても仕方(しかた)がないです。The trains stopped, so it can't be helped if we're late.

In conversation often しょうがない.

気(き)にするto worry about; to mindPhraseN3

小(ちい)さな失敗(しっぱい)なんて、気(き)にしないでください。Don't worry about a little mistake like that.

気(き)になるto be on one's mind; to bother onePhraseN3

試験(しけん)の結果(けっか)が気(き)になって、眠(ねむ)れません。The exam results are on my mind, and I can't sleep.

気(き)をつけるto be careful; to take carePhraseN4

夜道(よみち)は暗(くら)いので、気(き)をつけて帰(かえ)ってください。The roads are dark at night, so take care on your way home.

Takes に for what to watch out for: 車(くるま)に気(き)をつける.

気(き)がするto have a feeling thatPhraseN3

前(まえ)にもここに来(き)たことがあるような気(き)がします。I have a feeling I've been here before.

気(き)に入(い)るto like; to take a liking toPhraseN3

このかばんがとても気(き)に入(い)っています。I really like this bag.

For something you like now, use the ている form.

気(き)が合(あ)うto get on wellPhraseN3

彼女(かのじょ)とは初(はじ)めて会(あ)ったときから気(き)が合(あ)いました。She and I got on from the moment we met.

Takes と: 彼(かれ)と気(き)が合(あ)う.

気(き)が短(みじか)いshort-tempered; impatientPhraseN3

父(ちち)は気(き)が短(みじか)くて、すぐ怒(おこ)ります。My father is short-tempered and quick to get angry.

気(き)が強(つよ)いstrong-willedPhraseN3

妹(いもうと)は気(き)が強(つよ)くて、絶対(ぜったい)に謝(あやま)りません。My younger sister is strong-willed and never apologises.

気(き)が弱(よわ)いtimid; faint-heartedPhraseN3

気(き)が弱(よわ)くて、人(ひと)に頼(たの)まれると断(ことわ)れません。I'm timid, so I can't say no when someone asks me for something.

気(き)が重(おも)いto feel weighed down; to dreadPhraseN3

明日(あした)のプレゼンのことを考(かんが)えると、気(き)が重(おも)いです。Thinking about tomorrow's presentation fills me with dread.

気(き)が楽(らく)at ease; relievedPhraseN3

全部(ぜんぶ)話(はな)したら、気(き)が楽(らく)になりました。Once I had told them everything, I felt much easier.

気(き)を使(つか)うto be considerate; to fuss over othersPhraseN3

上司(じょうし)の家(いえ)に行(い)くと、気(き)を使(つか)って疲(つか)れます。Visiting my boss's house wears me out, because I have to be on my best behaviour.

Also written 気(き)を遣(つか)う.

気(き)が済(す)むto be satisfied; to feel settledPhraseN3

何度(なんど)も確認(かくにん)しないと気(き)が済(す)まない性格(せいかく)です。I'm the kind of person who isn't happy until I've checked several times.

気(き)のせいone's imaginationPhraseN3

誰(だれ)かに呼(よ)ばれたと思(おも)ったけれど、気(き)のせいでした。I thought someone had called me, but I imagined it.

気(き)が進(すす)まないnot to feel like (doing)PhraseN3

あまり気(き)が進(すす)まないけれど、飲(の)み会(かい)に行(い)くことにしました。I don't really feel like it, but I've decided to go to the drinks party.

気(き)が向(む)くto feel like it; to be in the moodPhraseN3

気(き)が向(む)いたら、週末(しゅうまつ)に一緒(いっしょ)に走(はし)りませんか。If you feel like it, why not come for a run with me at the weekend?

気(き)が散(ち)るto be distractedPhraseN3

テレビの音(おと)で気(き)が散(ち)って、勉強(べんきょう)できません。The noise from the TV distracts me, and I can't study.

気(き)が利(き)くthoughtful; attentivePhraseN3

新(あたら)しいアルバイトの人(ひと)は、とても気(き)が利(き)きます。The new part-timer is very thoughtful.

Someone who notices what is needed before being asked.

気(き)が抜(ぬ)けるto lose one's tension; to go flatPhraseN3

試験(しけん)が終(お)わって、すっかり気(き)が抜(ぬ)けてしまいました。Now the exams are over, all the tension has gone out of me.

Of a fizzy drink, it means to go flat.

気(き)を落(お)とすto lose heartPhraseN3

試験(しけん)に落(お)ちた友達(ともだち)に「気(き)を落(お)とさないで」と言(い)いました。I told my friend who had failed the exam not to lose heart.

気味(きみ)が悪(わる)いcreepy; eeriePhraseN3

夜(よる)の学校(がっこう)は静(しず)かすぎて気味(きみ)が悪(わる)いです。The school at night is so quiet it's creepy.

腹(はら)が立(た)つto get angryPhraseN3

何度(なんど)言(い)っても聞(き)いてくれないので、腹(はら)が立(た)ちました。He wouldn't listen however many times I told him, and I got angry.

頭(あたま)にくるto make one furiousPhraseN3

約束(やくそく)の時間(じかん)に一時間(いちじかん)も遅(おく)れてくるなんて、頭(あたま)にきます。Turning up a whole hour late — it makes me furious.

Casual.

胸(むね)がいっぱいone's heart is fullPhraseN3

卒業式(そつぎょうしき)では胸(むね)がいっぱいになりました。At the graduation ceremony my heart was full.

Of being moved, usually by joy, gratitude or sadness.

目(め)がないto be very fond of; to be unable to resistPhraseN3

姉(あね)は甘(あま)いものに目(め)がない。My sister can't resist anything sweet.

Takes に for what you love.

顔(かお)が広(ひろ)いto know a lot of peoplePhraseN3

山田(やまだ)さんは顔(かお)が広(ひろ)いから、聞(き)いてみたらどうですか。Mr Yamada knows a lot of people, so why not ask him?

手(て)が離(はな)せないto be tied up; to be busyPhraseN3

今(いま)ちょっと手(て)が離(はな)せないので、後(あと)で電話(でんわ)します。I'm a bit tied up right now, so I'll call you later.

耳(みみ)が痛(いた)いto hit home (of criticism)PhraseN3

先生(せんせい)の話(はなし)は正(ただ)しいけれど、耳(みみ)が痛(いた)いです。What the teacher said is right, but it hurts to hear it.

口(くち)が堅(かた)いable to keep a secretPhraseN3

彼(かれ)は口(くち)が堅(かた)いから、秘密(ひみつ)を話(はな)しても大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)です。He can keep a secret, so it's safe to tell him.

The opposite is 口(くち)が軽(かる)い.

申(もう)し訳(わけ)ないI am very sorry; inexcusablePhraseN3

お待(ま)たせしてしまって、申(もう)し訳(わけ)ないです。I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.

Stronger than すみません; the most formal form is 申(もう)し訳(わけ)ございません.

たまらないunbearable; can't standPhraseN3

暑(あつ)くてたまらないので、エアコンをつけました。It was unbearably hot, so I switched on the air conditioning.

After a te-form: 暑(あつ)くてたまらない.

かまわないnot to mind; it is all rightPhraseN3

私(わたし)は後(あと)でかまわないので、先(さき)にどうぞ。I don't mind going later, so please go ahead.

Also 〜てもかまわない: it is fine to.

夢中(むちゅう)になるto be absorbed in; to be crazy aboutPhraseN3

弟(おとうと)はゲームに夢中(むちゅう)になって、食事(しょくじ)も忘(わす)れています。My brother is so absorbed in his game that he forgets to eat.

This list belongs to People, family and feelings — nine lists and 361 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.