Japanese Vocabulary Guide

Worried in Japanese: Shinpai, Fuan, Kinchou, and More

Learn how to say worried, anxious, and nervous in Japanese with words like 心配しんぱい (shinpai), 不安ふあん (fuan), 緊張きんちょうする (kinchou suru), ドキドキする (dokidoki suru), and そわそわする (sowasowa suru) with examples for daily conversation, Japanese study, and the JLPT.

Written by Chiho Kamioka ·

Japanese worried words vocabulary image for 不安 (fuan), meaning anxious

In Japanese, the word you choose for feeling worried, anxious, or nervous depends on the situation and the type of feeling you want to describe.

For example, 心配しんぱい (shinpai) is often used when you are worried about a specific person or situation, while 不安ふあん (fuan) describes a more general feeling of anxiety or uncertainty. 緊張きんちょうする (kinchou suru) is commonly used before an exam, presentation, interview, or other important event.

This guide introduces useful Japanese words for worry and nervousness with simple meanings, daily conversation examples, and examples for Japanese study and the JLPT.

What You Can Do with These Words

After learning these words, you will be able to talk about worry, anxiety, and nervousness more naturally in Japanese.

  • Choose natural expressions for different situations, from everyday concerns to tests, presentations, and Japanese conversations.
  • Understand the differences between shinpai, fuan, kinchou, dokidoki, and sowasowa.

Quick Phrases for Worry and Nervousness

Here are some useful phrases for talking about worry, anxiety, and nervousness in Japanese.

Situation Japanese Meaning
Worried about someone 母ははの体調たいちょうが心配しんぱいです（shinpai）。 I am worried about my mother's health.
Feeling anxious 新あたらしい環境かんきょうになじめるか、少し不安ふあんです（fuan）。 I feel a little anxious about whether I can fit into my new environment.
Feeling nervous 人前ひとまえで話はなすと、緊張きんちょうします（kinchou suru）。 I get nervous when I speak in front of people.
Heart pounding 試験しけんが始はじまる前まえは、ドキドキします（dokidoki suru）。 My heart pounds before an exam begins.
Waiting for your turn 自分じぶんの番ばんを待まっている間あいだ、そわそわしていました（sowasowa suru）。 I felt restless while waiting for my turn.

心配しんぱい / shinpai: Worried or Concerned

心配しんぱい (shinpai) means “worry” or “concern.” Use it when you are worried about a person, an event, a result, or whether something will go well.

Useful for

family and health, plans, weather, travel, exams, results

Daily Conversation Examples

  • 母ははの体調たいちょうがよくないので、すごく心配しんぱいです。
    My mother is not feeling well, so I am very worried about her.
  • 明日あしたは雨あめが降ふるそうですね。旅行りょこうの予定よていがあるので、少し心配しんぱいです。
    It looks like it will rain tomorrow. We have travel plans, so I am a little worried.

Japanese Study & JLPT Examples

  • JLPTまで、あと一週間いっしゅうかんしかありません。合格ごうかくできるかな。少し心配しんぱいです。
    There is only one week left until the JLPT. I wonder if I can pass. I am a little worried.
  • 覚おぼえなければならない漢字かんじが、まだたくさんあります。試験しけんまでに間まに合あうか、心配しんぱいです。
    There are still many kanji I need to learn. I am worried that I may not finish in time for the exam.

Short Conversation

A: 明日あしたのJLPT、準備じゅんびはできましたか。

B: だいたいできました。でも、読解どっかいの問題もんだいで時間じかんが足たりなくなりそうで、心配しんぱいです。

A: Are you ready for the JLPT tomorrow?
B: I think so, for the most part. But I am worried that I may run out of time on the reading section.

不安ふあん / fuan: Anxious or Uneasy

不安ふあん (fuan) means “anxiety,” “uneasiness,” or “feeling uncertain.” It is often used when you do not know what will happen or do not feel confident about the future.

Useful for

uncertain results, the future, new experiences, study progress, exams

Daily Conversation Examples

  • 初はじめて一人ひとりで海外かいがいへ行いきます。楽たのしみですが、少し不安ふあんもあります。
    It is my first time traveling abroad alone. I am excited, but I also feel a little anxious.
  • 来週らいしゅうから新あたらしい職場しょくばで働はたらきます。うまくなじめるか、不安ふあんです。
    I am starting a new job next week. I am anxious about whether I will fit in.

Japanese Study & JLPT Examples

  • 日本語にほんごだけで会話かいわを続つづけられるか、まだ少し不安ふあんです。
    I still feel a little anxious about whether I can keep a conversation going entirely in Japanese.
  • 模擬試験もぎしけんではリスニングの点数てんすうが低ひくかったので、本番ほんばんでもちゃんと聞きき取とれるか不安ふあんです。
    My listening score was low on the practice test, so I am anxious about whether I will be able to understand it on the actual test.

Short Conversation

A: JLPTの勉強べんきょうは順調じゅんちょうですか。

B: 文法ぶんぽうはだいぶわかるようになりました。でも、模擬試験もぎしけんでは点数てんすうがあまりよくなかったので、本番ほんばんのリスニングが少し不安ふあんです。

A: Is your JLPT study going well?
B: I understand grammar much better now. But my practice test score was not very good, so I am still a little anxious about the listening section on the actual test.

緊張きんちょうする / kinchou suru: To Feel Nervous

緊張きんちょうする (kinchou suru) means “to feel nervous” or “to feel tense.” It is commonly used before tests, presentations, interviews, performances, or other situations in which you feel pressure.

Useful for

tests, presentations, interviews, speaking in front of others, meeting new people

Daily Conversation Examples

  • 人前ひとまえで話はなすと、いつも緊張きんちょうしてしまいます。
    I always get nervous when I speak in front of other people.
  • 知しらない人ひとばかりの集あつまりは、少し緊張きんちょうします。
    I feel a little nervous at gatherings where I do not know anyone.

Japanese Study & JLPT Examples

  • JLPTの試験会場しけんかいじょうに着ついたら、急に緊張きんちょうしてきました。
    I suddenly started to feel nervous when I arrived at the JLPT test center.
  • 日本語にほんごで発表はっぴょうするときは、今でも緊張きんちょうします。
    I still feel nervous when I give a presentation in Japanese.

Short Conversation

A: 今日きょうの日本語にほんごのスピーチ、もうすぐですね。

B: はい。何度なんども練習れんしゅうしましたが、みんなの前まえで話はなすと思おもうと、やっぱり緊張きんちょうします。

A: Your Japanese speech is coming up soon.
B: Yes. I have practiced many times, but just thinking about speaking in front of everyone still makes me nervous.

ドキドキする / dokidoki suru: Heart Pounding

ドキドキする (dokidoki suru) describes the feeling of your heart beating fast. It can be caused by nervousness, fear, excitement, or romantic feelings. You can also say 胸むねがドキドキする.

Useful for

nervous moments, excitement, surprises, waiting for results, speaking in front of others

Daily Conversation Examples

  • 初はじめて会あう人ひととの待まち合あわせは、少しドキドキします。
    I feel a little nervous and excited when meeting someone for the first time.
  • 飛行機ひこうきが急きゅうに大おおきく揺ゆれて、しばらくドキドキが止とまりませんでした。
    The airplane suddenly shook badly, and my heart kept pounding for a while.

Japanese Study & JLPT Examples

  • 試験しけんが始はじまる直前ちょくぜんは、すごくドキドキしました。
    My heart was pounding just before the exam started.
  • JLPTの結果けっかを見みる直前ちょくぜんは、合格ごうかくしているか気きになって、胸むねがドキドキしました。
    Just before checking my JLPT result, my heart was pounding because I was wondering whether I had passed.

Short Conversation

A: JLPTの結果けっか、もう見みましたか。

B: まだです。これから見みるところなので、すごくドキドキしています。

A: Have you checked your JLPT result yet?
B: Not yet. I am about to check it, so my heart is pounding.

そわそわする / sowasowa suru: Restless or Unable to Settle Down

そわそわする (sowasowa suru) describes being unable to settle down because you are nervous, worried, excited, or waiting for something. It often suggests that the feeling can be seen in your behavior, such as repeatedly checking your phone, looking around, or moving restlessly.

Useful for

waiting for news or results, before an important event, expecting someone, nervousness, excitement

Daily Conversation Examples

  • 面接めんせつの結果けっかを待まっている間あいだ、落おち着つかなくて、ずっとそわそわしていました。
    I could not relax and felt restless while waiting for the interview result.
  • 友達ともだちから返事へんじが来こないので、スマホを何度なんども見みながらそわそわしています。
    My friend has not replied, so I keep checking my phone and feeling restless.

Japanese Study & JLPT Examples

  • JLPTの結果けっかが発表はっぴょうされる日ひは、朝あさからそわそわして、何度もサイトを確認しました。
    On the day the JLPT results were released, I felt restless and checked the website many times.
  • 発表はっぴょうの順番じゅんばんが近ちかづくにつれて、だんだんそわそわしてきました。
    I became increasingly restless as my turn to present approached.

Short Conversation

A: さっきから何度なんどもスマホを見みていますね。

B: 今日きょう、面接めんせつの結果けっかが届とどく予定よていなんです。気きになって、そわそわしてしまって。

A: You have been checking your phone repeatedly.
B: I am supposed to receive my interview result today. I cannot stop thinking about it, so I feel restless.

Useful Differences: Which Word Should You Use?

心配しんぱい vs 不安ふあん

Use 心配しんぱい when you are concerned about a specific person, situation, or possible problem. 不安ふあん describes an uneasy feeling caused by uncertainty or a lack of confidence.

Specific concern: 母ははの体調たいちょうがよくないので、すごく心配しんぱいです。
My mother is not feeling well, so I am very worried about her.

Uncertainty: 新あたらしい職場しょくばにうまくなじめるか、不安ふあんです。
I feel anxious about whether I will fit in at my new workplace.

緊張きんちょうする vs ドキドキする

緊張きんちょうする describes the nervous or tense feeling itself. ドキドキする focuses on the physical feeling of your heart beating fast. It can also be caused by excitement, fear, or romantic feelings.

Feeling nervous: 発表はっぴょうの前まえは、いつも緊張きんちょうします。
I always feel nervous before a presentation.

Heart pounding: 自分じぶんの番ばんが近ちかづいて、だんだんドキドキしてきました。
My heart started pounding more and more as my turn approached.

緊張きんちょうする vs そわそわする

緊張きんちょうする describes feeling nervous or tense. そわそわする describes being unable to settle down, often in a way that can be seen in your behavior.

Feeling nervous: 面接めんせつの前まえは緊張きんちょうします。
I feel nervous before an interview.

Acting restless: 結果けっかが気きになって、スマホを何度なんども見みながらそわそわしています。
I keep checking my phone and feeling restless because I am waiting for the result.

Practice Talking About Feelings with Japonin Teachers

Words like 心配しんぱい, 不安ふあん, 緊張きんちょうする, and そわそわする become easier to understand when you practice them in real conversation.

Japonin offers live online Japanese lessons for learners who want to build confidence in speaking, listening, vocabulary, grammar, and natural communication.

You can also practice talking about your Japanese study, asking questions when you feel unsure, and preparing for the JLPT with experienced Japanese teachers.

Learn more about Japonin lessons

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Japanese Words for Worry and Nervousness: FAQ

How do you say “worried” in Japanese?

A common way to say “I am worried” in Japanese is 心配しんぱいです (shinpai desu). For example, 母ははの体調たいちょうがよくないので、すごく心配しんぱいです means “My mother is not feeling well, so I am very worried about her.”

What is the difference between shinpai and fuan?

心配しんぱい (shinpai) is often used when you are concerned about a specific person, situation, or possible problem. 不安ふあん (fuan) describes an uneasy feeling caused by uncertainty or a lack of confidence. In some situations, both words can be used, but the focus is slightly different.

How do you say “nervous” in Japanese?

A common way to say “I am nervous” is 緊張きんちょうしています (kinchou shiteimasu). It is often used before a test, interview, presentation, performance, or another situation in which you feel pressure. For example, 発表はっぴょうの前まえは、いつも緊張きんちょうします means “I always feel nervous before a presentation.”

What does dokidoki mean in Japanese?

ドキドキする (dokidoki suru) describes the feeling of your heart beating fast. It can be caused by nervousness, fear, excitement, or romantic feelings. For example, 結果けっかを見みる直前ちょくぜんは、胸むねがドキドキしました means “My heart was pounding just before I checked the result.”

What does sowasowa mean in Japanese?

そわそわする (sowasowa suru) describes being unable to settle down because you are nervous, worried, excited, or waiting for something. The feeling is often visible in your behavior, such as repeatedly checking your phone or looking around. For example, 結果けっかが気きになって、スマホを何度なんども見みながらそわそわしています means “I keep checking my phone and feeling restless because I am waiting for the result.”

What is the difference between kinchou suru, dokidoki suru, and sowasowa suru?

緊張きんちょうする describes the nervous or tense feeling itself. ドキドキする focuses on the physical feeling of your heart beating fast. そわそわする describes being unable to settle down, often in a way that can be seen in your behavior.

What is the difference between kinchou shimasu and kinchou shiteimasu?

緊張します (kinchou shimasu) often describes what usually happens in a certain situation, while 緊張しています (kinchou shiteimasu) describes being nervous at the present moment. For example, 人前で話すと緊張します means “I get nervous when I speak in front of people,” while 今、少し緊張しています means “I am a little nervous right now.”

Since 2006, Japonin has helped over 6,000 learners worldwide study Japanese online with support from our experienced Japanese language teachers.

Chiho Kamioka, Founder of Japonin

Written by Chiho KamiokaFounder of Japonin 

This guide explains five common Japanese expressions for worry, anxiety, nervousness, a pounding heart, and restlessness through natural examples from daily life, Japanese study, and the JLPT.

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