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B1 adjective #3,000 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

しんどい

shindoi
At the A1 level, you can think of 'shindoi' as a more emotional way to say 'I am tired.' While you usually learn 'tsukaremashita' first, 'shindoi' is what you will hear people say to themselves when they sit down after a long walk. It is a simple i-adjective. You can use it to describe physical tiredness from running or playing. Just remember it is a bit more casual than 'tsukareta.' Imagine you are carrying a very heavy bag; the feeling of that weight making you tired is 'shindoi.' It's a useful word to express basic feelings to friends.
At the A2 level, you start to use 'shindoi' to describe not just yourself, but also tasks. For example, 'Kono shukudai wa shindoi' (This homework is tough/exhausting). You should practice the basic conjugations: 'shindokunai' (not tired) and 'shindokatta' (was tired). You will notice that Japanese people use this word when they are sighing. It's a 'feeling' word. You might hear it in anime when a character is training hard. It helps you sound more natural and less like a textbook when you use it with classmates.
At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance between 'shindoi' and 'tsukareta.' 'Shindoi' often implies a sense of 'suffering' or 'burden' that 'tsukareta' doesn't always have. It can be used for mental stress. For instance, if you have too many things to do and you feel overwhelmed, 'shindoi' is the perfect word. You also begin to see it in Kansai-ben contexts, where it is used even more broadly. You should be able to use it in sentences like 'Seishinteki ni shindoi' (It's mentally draining) to describe complex situations in your life.
At the B2 level, you can use 'shindoi' to describe social situations and interpersonal relationships. 'Ano hito to no tsukiai wa shindoi' (Dealing with that person is exhausting). You understand that 'shindoi' can describe a chronic state of burnout. You are also aware of the slang usage where 'shindoi' describes being overwhelmed by something positive, like a beautiful piece of art or a favorite idol. You can distinguish between 'shindoi' (internal state), 'kitsui' (external harshness), and 'mendousai' (annoyance).
At the C1 level, you master the subtle sociolinguistic implications of 'shindoi.' You know exactly when to use it to build rapport through shared struggle (bonding over a difficult project) and when to avoid it to maintain professional distance. You can use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as 'shindosa' (the degree of exhaustion) or 'shindogaru' (to act as if one is exhausted). You understand its historical roots in the Kansai region and how its adoption into standard Japanese reflects a shift toward more expressive, subjective language in daily life.
At the C2 level, you have a native-like intuition for 'shindoi.' You can appreciate its use in literature and high-level discourse to describe existential fatigue or the weight of societal expectations. You understand the nuances of its prosody—how the length of the 'n' or the 'i' can change the intensity of the feeling. You can engage in discussions about the 'shindoi' culture in modern Japan, where the word encapsulates the collective exhaustion of a high-pressure society. You use it with perfect precision, blending it seamlessly with other high-level vocabulary.
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しんどい in 30 Sekunden

  • Shindoi is a common Japanese adjective for 'tired' or 'tough.'
  • It covers physical fatigue, mental stress, and difficult tasks.
  • It originated in Kansai but is now standard Japanese.
  • It is more colloquial and 'heavy' than the standard 'tsukareta.'

The Japanese word しんどい (shindoi) is a multifaceted adjective primarily used to express a state of being physically exhausted, mentally drained, or finding a task overwhelmingly burdensome. While it is often translated simply as 'tired,' its nuance extends far beyond the English word 'tired' or even the standard Japanese 'tsukareta.' It encapsulates a sense of heaviness, a lack of energy, and the feeling that continuing a certain action is a significant struggle. Historically rooted in the Kansai dialect, it has permeated the standard Japanese language and is now used ubiquitously across Japan, especially in colloquial settings. When you say 'shindoi,' you are not just saying you need a nap; you are often communicating that the current situation—be it a long hike, a difficult project at work, or a complicated social relationship—is weighing heavily on your spirit and body.

Physical Dimension
Refers to bodily fatigue after exercise, lack of sleep, or illness. It feels like your limbs are leaden.
Mental/Emotional Dimension
Refers to psychological stress, burnout, or the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibilities.
Situational Dimension
Used to describe a task that is 'tough' or 'hard to deal with,' such as a strict deadline or a difficult person.

「今日は残業続きで、体も心もしんどいです。」

— (Today, after continuous overtime, both my body and mind are exhausted.)

In the context of modern Japanese society, 'shindoi' has become a keyword for expressing the 'grind' of daily life. It is less formal than 'tsukaremashita' and more visceral. It suggests a state where one's reserves are depleted. Interestingly, in recent years, the slang 'shindoi' has also been used by fans (otaku) to describe a feeling of being 'overwhelmed by emotion' or 'so cute/cool it hurts' when looking at their favorite idol or character, though this is a very specific subcultural usage.

「この坂道を登るのはかなりしんどいね。」

— (Climbing this slope is quite tough/exhausting, isn't it?)
Social Fatigue
Dealing with difficult social dynamics or 'reading the air' too much.
Academic Pressure
The feeling of being crushed by exams or homework volume.

Using しんどい correctly requires understanding its grammatical behavior as an i-adjective. Like other adjectives in this category (e.g., oishii, takai), it follows standard conjugation patterns. However, because it describes a subjective internal state, it is most frequently used in the present tense to express how the speaker feels right now, or in the past tense to describe a completed difficult experience.

  • Present Positive: しんどい (shindoi) - It is tough / I am tired.
  • Present Negative: しんどくない (shindokunai) - It is not tough / I am not tired.
  • Past Positive: しんどかった (shindokatta) - It was tough / I was tired.
  • Past Negative: しんどくなかった (shindokunakatta) - It wasn't tough / I wasn't tired.

In casual conversation, you can simply drop the 'desu' at the end. In polite but informal settings, adding 'desu' (しんどいです) is appropriate. One of the most common ways to use it is as an exclamation: 'Aa, shindoi...' (Oh, I'm so beat...). This is often sighed rather than spoken clearly.

「最近、仕事が忙しすぎて本当にしんどいんだ。」

— (Lately, work has been too busy and it's really tough/exhausting.)

Another important usage is the 'shindoi' of troublesomeness. If someone asks you to do a task that requires a lot of effort you don't want to give, you might say it's 'shindoi.' This overlaps slightly with mendousai (bothersome), but 'shindoi' emphasizes the physical or mental energy it will drain from you, whereas 'mendousai' emphasizes the annoyance of the task itself.

When modifying a noun, it functions like any other adjective: 'shindoi shigoto' (a tough job), 'shindoi hibi' (exhausting days). It can also be used in the adverbial form 'shindokusuru' (to make something difficult), though this is less common than the simple descriptive use.

You will encounter しんどい in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the mundane to the dramatic. It is a staple of 'slice-of-life' anime, office dramas, and everyday street talk in Japan. Because it is a word that expresses vulnerability and exhaustion, it is often heard in 'honne' (true feeling) conversations between friends or family members.

At the Office
Colleagues whispering to each other after a long meeting: 'Kyou no kaigi, shindokatta ne' (Today's meeting was exhausting, wasn't it?).
At School
Students after a PE class or a long exam period: 'Bukatsu, maji de shindoi' (Club activities are seriously exhausting).
In the Gym
People pushing through their last set of weights: 'Ato ippun... shindoi!' (One more minute... this is tough!).

「精神的にしんどいときは、無理をしないで休んでください。」

— (When it's mentally tough, please rest without overdoing it.)

In social media (Twitter/X, Instagram), 'shindoi' is often used as a standalone hashtag #しんどい to express burnout or, conversely, the 'fangirl/fanboy' overwhelm mentioned earlier. If a celebrity posts a particularly handsome photo, fans might comment 'Kao ga sugite shindoi' (His face is too much [good], it's painful/overwhelming).

While しんどい is a versatile word, learners often make a few key mistakes in its application, particularly regarding formality and nuance. The most common error is using it in highly formal situations where a more objective or humble term is required.

Mistake 1: Excessive Formality
Saying 'shindoi desu' to a CEO during a formal interview. Instead, use 'taihen desu' (it is difficult) or 'tsukarete orimasu' (I am tired - humble).
Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Mendousai'
'Mendousai' means something is a bother/nuisance. 'Shindoi' means it's physically/mentally draining. If you find a task annoying but easy, it's 'mendousai,' not 'shindoi.'
Mistake 3: Overuse in Writing
'Shindoi' is primarily a spoken, colloquial word. In formal essays or reports, use 'kunan' (hardship) or 'hirou' (fatigue).

❌ 「社長、この仕事はしんどいです。」

✅ 「社長、この仕事は非常に大変です。」

Another mistake is using 'shindoi' to describe someone else's personality in a way that sounds like 'annoying.' While you can say 'Ano hito to iru to shindoi' (Being with that person is draining), calling someone a 'shindoi hito' is very strong and implies they are emotionally exhausting to be around. Use it with caution!

To truly master しんどい, you must understand how it sits alongside other Japanese words for tiredness and difficulty. Each has a specific 'flavor' of exhaustion.

疲れた (Tsukareta)
The standard word for 'tired.' It is more objective. 'Shindoi' is more about the feeling of the burden.
だるい (Darui)
Lethargic or sluggish. It describes a heavy, 'blah' feeling in the body, often associated with humidity or a cold.
きつい (Kitsui)
Tight, harsh, or intense. Used for a tight schedule or a physically demanding workout. 'Kitsui' focuses on the external pressure, while 'shindoi' focuses on the internal exhaustion.
辛い (Tsurai)
Painful or heartbreaking. This is more emotional. While 'shindoi' can be mental, 'tsurai' is specifically about suffering.

「足がだるい」vs「足がしんどい」

— (Dull/heavy legs vs. Exhausted/struggling legs)

Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to sound objective (tsukareta), physically heavy (darui), under pressure (kitsui), or completely drained (shindoi).

How Formal Is It?

Formell

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Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

あぁ、しんどい。

Ah, I'm tired/beat.

Simple exclamation.

2

今日はしんどいです。

I am tired today.

Polite present tense.

3

山登りはしんどい。

Mountain climbing is exhausting.

Describing an activity.

4

体もしんどい？

Is your body tired too?

Question form.

5

昨日はしんどかった。

Yesterday was tough/exhausting.

Past tense.

6

あまりしんどくない。

I'm not very tired.

Negative form.

7

しんどい時は寝る。

When I'm tired, I sleep.

Conditional usage.

8

このカバン、しんどい。

This bag is [heavy and] exhausting.

Using 'shindoi' for physical burden.

1

毎日仕事がしんどい。

Work is exhausting every day.

Adverbial 'every day' + shindoi.

2

階段はしんどいから、エレベーターを使おう。

Stairs are tough, so let's use the elevator.

Giving a reason with 'kara'.

3

走るのはしんどいですか？

Is running exhausting?

Polite question.

4

ちょっとしんどそうな顔だね。

You look a bit tired/exhausted.

Using '~sou' (looks like).

5

テスト勉強がしんどかった。

Studying for the test was exhausting.

Past tense describing a task.

6

しんどいけど、頑張る。

It's tough, but I'll do my best.

Contrast with 'kedo'.

7

足がしんどくなってきた。

My legs are starting to get tired.

Becoming form '~te kita'.

8

全然しんどくなかったよ。

It wasn't exhausting at all.

Emphatic negative past.

1

人間関係がしんどいと感じることがある。

There are times when I feel that human relationships are exhausting.

Noun phrase + 'to kanjiru'.

2

このプロジェクトは精神的にしんどい。

This project is mentally draining.

Adverb 'seishinteki ni'.

3

しんどい思いをさせてごめんね。

I'm sorry for making you go through a hard time.

Causative-like expression 'omoi wo saseru'.

4

無理をすると後でしんどくなるよ。

If you overdo it, you'll feel exhausted later.

Conditional '~to'.

5

最近、何をするのもしんどいんだ。

Lately, doing anything is a struggle.

Inclusive 'mo' (anything).

6

しんどい状況を乗り越えたい。

I want to overcome this tough situation.

Modifying 'joukyou' (situation).

7

あいつ、最近しんどがってるな。

He seems to be finding things tough lately.

Using '~garu' for third person feelings.

8

これ以上はしんどくて無理だ。

It's so exhausting I can't do any more.

Te-form for reason.

1

介護の仕事は体力的にかなりしんどい。

Caregiving work is quite physically demanding/exhausting.

Adverb 'tairyokuteki ni'.

2

期待に応え続けるのはしんどいものだ。

It's an exhausting thing to keep meeting expectations.

Generic 'mono da' for truths.

3

しんどい時こそ、笑っていたい。

Especially when times are tough, I want to keep smiling.

Emphasis 'koso'.

4

推しが尊すぎてしんどい。

My favorite idol is so precious it hurts (slang).

Modern slang usage.

5

都会の生活にしんどさを感じる。

I feel the 'toughness' of city life.

Noun form 'shindosa'.

6

しんどいなら、遠慮なく言ってください。

If it's too much for you, please don't hesitate to say so.

Polite conditional.

7

正直、今の生活リズムはしんどい。

To be honest, my current life rhythm is exhausting.

Sentence starter 'shoujiki'.

8

しんどい練習に耐えて、優勝した。

They endured exhausting practice and won the championship.

Modifying 'renshuu'.

1

現代社会において、常に「しんどさ」を抱えている人は多い。

In modern society, many people carry a constant sense of 'exhaustion.'

Formal 'ni oite' structure.

2

その言葉の裏にあるしんどさを察してあげたい。

I want to sense the exhaustion/pain behind those words.

Abstract noun usage.

3

しんどいという一言では言い表せない疲労感がある。

There is a sense of fatigue that cannot be expressed by the single word 'shindoi.'

Quotation 'to iu'.

4

過度な責任感は、自分をしんどくさせるだけだ。

An excessive sense of responsibility only makes one exhausted.

Causative 'saseru'.

5

しんどい局面をどう切り抜けるかが鍵となる。

How to navigate through tough phases is the key.

Noun 'kyokumen' (phase/aspect).

6

彼はしんどい顔一つ見せずに、仕事をやり遂げた。

He completed the work without showing a single sign of exhaustion.

Idiomatic 'kao hitotsu misezu'.

7

SNSの通知が鳴り止まないのは、正直しんどい。

The non-stop SNS notifications are, frankly, exhausting.

Nominalized clause 'no wa'.

8

しんどいからこそ、休息の質にこだわるべきだ。

Precisely because it's exhausting, one should be particular about the quality of rest.

Reasoning 'kara koso'.

1

実存的なしんどさを抱えながら、我々は生きていく。

We go on living while carrying an existential exhaustion.

Philosophical context.

2

しんどいという感情を言語化することで、救われることもある。

By verbalizing the feeling of 'shindoi,' one can sometimes find salvation.

Complex gerund 'gengoka suru koto'.

3

その「しんどさ」は、単なる肉体疲労の域を超えている。

That 'exhaustion' exceeds the realm of mere physical fatigue.

Formal 'iki wo koete iru'.

4

しんどい時にこそ、人間の真価が問われる。

It is precisely in tough times that a person's true worth is questioned.

Proverbial tone.

5

組織全体のしんどさを軽減するための抜本的な改革が必要だ。

Drastic reforms are needed to alleviate the exhaustion of the entire organization.

Formal business/political context.

6

「しんどい」という言葉が持つ多義性を考察する。

Consider the polysemy (multiple meanings) of the word 'shindoi.'

Academic 'kousatsu suru'.

7

日々のしんどさに埋没して、大切なものを見失ってはいけない。

One must not lose sight of what's important, buried in daily exhaustion.

Metaphorical 'maibotsu suru'.

8

しんどいという主観的な感覚を、どう客観的に評価するか。

How to objectively evaluate the subjective sensation of being 'exhausted.'

Abstract inquiry.

Häufige Kollokationen

体がしんどい (body is tired)
精神的にしんどい (mentally tough)
仕事がしんどい (work is exhausting)
しんどい思いをする (to have a hard time)
見ていてしんどい (painful to watch)
しんどそうな顔 (a tired-looking face)
かなりしんどい (quite tough)
正直しんどい (honestly tough)
しんどい状況 (tough situation)
足がしんどい (legs are tired)

Häufige Phrasen

マジでしんどい (seriously tough)

もうしんどい (already exhausted)

しんどいね (it's tough, isn't it?)

ちょっとしんどい (a bit tired)

しんどすぎる (too exhausting)

しんどいけど頑張る (tough but will try)

何もしんどくない (not tough at all)

しんどい時は休む (rest when tired)

人生しんどい (life is tough)

しんどい仕事 (exhausting job)

Wird oft verwechselt mit

しんどい vs 疲れた (tsukareta)

Objective tiredness vs. subjective burden.

しんどい vs だるい (darui)

Lethargy/sluggishness vs. exhaustion/struggle.

しんどい vs 面倒くさい (mendousai)

Annoyance/bother vs. energy drain.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

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Leicht verwechselbar

しんどい vs

しんどい vs

しんどい vs

しんどい vs

しんどい vs

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

social media

Often used with emojis like 😫 or 💦.

subjectivity

It is a very subjective word. What is 'shindoi' for one person might not be for another.

physical pain

Sometimes used to describe feeling sick or having a fever.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using it in a formal report.
  • Confusing it with 'nemui' (sleepy).
  • Using it to describe a 'difficult' math problem (use 'muzukashii' instead).
  • Overusing it in a way that sounds like constant complaining.
  • Using the wrong conjugation (e.g., 'shindoikatta' is wrong).

Tipps

Casual Sigh

Saying 'shindoi...' to yourself is a very common Japanese habit.

Past Tense

Remember to use 'shindokatta' when talking about your day.

Kansai Flavor

If you are in Osaka, you'll hear this word constantly.

Internet Slang

On social media, it can mean 'I love this so much it hurts.'

Vs Tsukareta

Use 'shindoi' for a deeper, more 'heavy' feeling of fatigue.

Empathy

Agreeing with 'shindoi ne' is a great way to build rapport.

Feeling Sick

You can use it when you have a cold and feel weak.

Hiragana

Always write it in hiragana to look natural.

Intonation

The pitch usually drops at the end.

Noun Form

Use 'shindosa' to talk about the 'toughness' of a job.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you are carrying a 'SHIN' (shin bone) that is 'DOI' (doing) too much work. It's 'shindoi'!

Wortherkunft

Kansai dialect

Kultureller Kontext

Used to describe being overwhelmed by the 'preciousness' of a character.

In Osaka, 'shindoi' is the default word for 'tired.' In Tokyo, 'tsukareta' was more common, but 'shindoi' is now equally popular.

Be careful not to sound like a complainer by saying it too often.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"最近、仕事しんどくない？ (Isn't work tough lately?)"

"昨日のジム、しんどかったね。 (Yesterday's gym session was tough, wasn't it?)"

"しんどい時はどうやってリラックスする？ (How do you relax when you're exhausted?)"

"この暑さ、しんどくないですか？ (Isn't this heat exhausting?)"

"毎日早起きするのはしんどいよね。 (Waking up early every day is tough, right?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日一番しんどかったことは何ですか？ (What was the toughest thing today?)

しんどい時に自分にかける言葉は？ (What words do you say to yourself when you're exhausted?)

最近、精神的にしんどいと感じる瞬間はありますか？ (Are there moments lately when you feel mentally drained?)

しんどい状況を乗り越えた経験を書いてください。 (Write about an experience where you overcame a tough situation.)

「しんどい」と「疲れた」の違いについてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the difference between 'shindoi' and 'tsukareta'?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It's not rude, but it's casual. Don't use it with your boss in a formal setting.

Not usually. Use 'nemui' for sleepy. Use 'shindoi' if you are exhausted from lack of sleep.

No, it is used all over Japan now, though it started in Kansai.

'Taihen' is 'difficult/serious' (objective), 'shindoi' is 'exhausting' (subjective).

Yes, if carrying it makes you feel exhausted, you can say 'kono nimotsu, shindoi'.

Say 'shindokunai desu'.

It is almost always written in hiragana. There is no standard kanji.

Yes, but it means they are emotionally draining to be around.

It means something is so good/cute it's overwhelming.

It is an i-adjective.

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