Kimochi is the Japanese word for 'feeling', explained (2024)

By Masaki Mori

What does “kimochi” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kimochi” often to mean ‘feeling’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its grammatical components. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand “kimochi” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

  • Definition and meanings of “kimochi”
  • What does “kimochi” literally mean in Japanese?
    • Example #1: how to say “feelings” in Japanese
    • Example #2: another usage of “kimochi”
  • Summary

Definition and meanings of “kimochi”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kimochi”.

  • kimochi – 気持ち (きもち) : a noun meaning ‘feeling’, ‘mind’, ‘heart’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

Native speakers use this noun to refer to someone’s feeling, mind, heart, or such in Japanese. So, this is very similar to the English nouns written above.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its grammatical components in detail, one by one.

What does “kimochi” literally mean in Japanese?

“Kimochi” consists of the following two components:

  • ki – 気 (き) : a noun widely used to mean ‘mood’, ‘mind’, ‘feeling’, or such in Japanese.
  • mochi – 持ち (もち) : one conjugation of the verb, “motsu”, which means ‘to have’ in Japanese.

These two components tell us that “kimochi” literally means ‘a feeling which someone has in their mind’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is very close to the actual meanings.

Kimochi is the Japanese word for 'feeling', explained (1)

When we meet new Japanese words, we should check their grammatical components in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, components tell us a lot about the meanings of the words they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “kimochi” through the detailed check above.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kimochi” together with its grammatical components. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

Example #1: how to say “feelings” in Japanese

kanojo wa watashi no kimochi wo shira nai – 彼女は私の気持ちを知らない (かのじょはわたしのきもちをしらない)

She doesn’t know my feelings.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

  • kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
  • wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
  • watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
  • no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
  • wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “watashi no kimochi” to make the object in the sentence.
  • shira – 知ら (しら) : one conjugation of the verb, “shiru”, which means ‘to know’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
  • nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. In the example, this is used after “shira” to deny its meaning.

This is a typical usage of “kimochi”. In this example, it works together with the possessive case, “watashi no”, to say “my feelings” in Japanese. Native speakers sometimes use this combination.

Example #2: another usage of “kimochi”

boku no kimochi wo kangae te kudasai – 僕の気持ちを考えてください (ぼくのきもちをかんがえてください)

Please think about my feelings.

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

  • boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males. In the example, this works together with the case particle, “no”, to mean ‘my’ in Japanese.
  • kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “kangaeru“, which means ‘to think’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
  • te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form. In the example, this is used after “kangae” to make its te form, “kangae te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
  • kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kangae te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is another typical usage of “kimochi”. In this example, it works together with the possessive case, “boku no”, to mean ‘my feelings’ in Japanese. When we want to say “feelings” in Japanese, anyway, “kimochi” is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kimochi” in detail based on its grammatical components. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

  • kimochi – 気持ち (きもち) : a noun meaning ‘feeling’, ‘mind’, ‘heart’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. This noun consists of two components, “ki” and “mochi”, which literally mean ‘a feeling which someone has in their mind’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is very close to the actual meanings.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.

Kimochi is the Japanese word for 'feeling', explained (2024)

FAQs

Kimochi is the Japanese word for 'feeling', explained? ›

Kimochi (気持ち) loosely translates as “good feelings”. As is the case with many Japanese phrases, a quick definition is often enough to satisfy our over-simplified, North-American view of the world but it does not do the concept justice.

What does kimochi mean in Japanese? ›

Feeling or Sensation: "Kimochi" is often used to refer to physical or emotional feelings or sensations. It can encompass a wide range of feelings, such as pleasure, discomfort, emotion, or mood, depending on the context.

What does feeling Kimochi mean? ›

MO. CHEE) MEANS “FEELING” IN JAPANESE. And Kimochis® are what come inside each character! Kimochis® are small pillows with a feeling (happy, sad, silly, brave) printed on one side, and a corresponding facial expression on the other.

What is in Kimochi? ›

In his Kimochi, Christian Suzuki recreates ochazuke in co*cktail form using gin; vapor-distilled genmaicha tea, produced from a still he fashioned out of a tamale pot; myoga cordial, made with a type of Japanese ginger that adds a hint of acidity; clarified yuzu juice and sea bean solution.

What is the use of Kimochi? ›

According to this document, the main function of the kunoichi was espionage, finding functions in enemy house services, to gather knowledge, gain trust or listen to conversations. This "technique to utilize a woman" was employed for infiltration purposes when it was difficult for a man to infiltrate.

What does Ara Ara mean in Japanese? ›

Ara ara (あら あら) is a Japanese expression that is mainly used by older females and means “My my”, “Oh dear”, or “Oh me, oh my”. Depending on the…

What is feeling good in Japanese? ›

feel good [example]

気分が良い [ex.]

What does a kimochi look like? ›

And Kimochis are what come inside each character. Kimochis are small pillows with a feeling (happy, sad, silly, brave) printed on one side, and a corresponding facial expression on the other. Each Kimochi character comes with a set of three feelings and a How-To Kimochis Feel Guide.

Does kimoi mean cringe? ›

キモい or きもい • (kimoi) -i (adverbial キモく (kimoku)) (slang) gross, disgusting, repulsive quotations ▼ (slang) cringeworthy, weird.

How do you say feeling sad in Japanese? ›

You can just say,” kanashi i ”, without “I am”, because you are the person who have this feeling. There's also a slang around called ぴえん which means “sad” like “boo-hoo” type sad as well!

How do you eat Kimochi? ›

Eat It As Is

It's great straight out of the jar for a little snack any time. It's fun to fish out a single piece with a fork whenever the craving hits, but you can also pull a whole bunch of it out of the liquid and arrange it in a bowl and serve it with toothpicks alongside.

Does kimchi go bad? ›

If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated. Signs of your kimchi going bad include mold growth, an alcoholic smell, and an extremely sour taste.

Why am I craving kimchi? ›

If your stomach doesn't have enough acid to digest food, you may find yourself craving kimchi or pickled vegetables as a way of upping the acid content in your digestive tract. All that said, sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for a craving is to indulge it.

What are the benefits of Kimochis? ›

The Kimochis lessons help students become more aware of their own feelings and how they communicate, not only with their words, but also with their facial expressions and body language. Kimochis help children learn to identify with the feelings of others, too.

Why do Japanese pray before eating? ›

Overall, the phrase "itadakimasu" has become an integral part of Japanese dining etiquette, ingrained in the culture as a gesture of gratitude and respect towards food, nature, and one another. It reflects the values of mindfulness, interconnectedness, and appreciation for the simple act of sharing a meal.

What is the difference between Kimochi and Kibun? ›

According to the findings of the study, kibun (気分) is something that has a taste and moves up and down in the body; kimochi (気持 ち ) is something that is understood, communicated to others, expressed in words and occupies space in the body.

What does Doki Doki mean in Japanese? ›

2022/12/03. Doki Doki is a Japanese phrase. Often used in anime, but it means a heart which is beating fast.

Why do Japanese say Yamete? ›

"Yamete" means "stop" or "quit," and "kudasai" is a polite request, similar to "please" in English. This phrase is used in various contexts, such as to ask someone to stop doing something that is causing discomfort, annoyance, or harm.

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