N2 · 40 words

Psychology and the mind

Memory, motivation, self-image and the words for how the mind works.

Japanese separates two things English often calls "mind": 精神(せいしん), the mind as spirit and mental health, and 心理(しんり), the mind as something that can be studied, as in 心理学(しんりがく). Many words here end in 感(かん), "a sense of": 劣等感(れっとうかん), 罪悪感(ざいあくかん), 達成感(たっせいかん). They name a feeling from the outside, so they suit a description better than a cry from the heart: to say you are happy, you would not reach for a word on this list.

The words

Verb (3)

癒すto heal; to sootheVerbN2

温泉(おんせん)に入(はい)って、日頃(ひごろ)の疲(つか)れを癒(いや)した。I soaked in a hot spring and eased away my everyday tiredness.

Of tiredness, grief and wounds; the noun 癒(いや)し is everywhere in advertising.

抑えるto hold back; to restrainVerbN2

怒(いか)りを抑(おさ)えて、冷静(れいせい)に話(はな)した。I held back my anger and spoke calmly.

Of feelings, prices and costs; to hold something down physically is 押(お)さえる.

励ますto encourage; to cheer upVerbN3

試験(しけん)に落(お)ちた友達(ともだち)を励(はげ)ました。I cheered up a friend who had failed an exam.

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

Practise this list

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