Phrase in 30 Seconds
A mysterious gut feeling or premonition that something, usually negative or unusual, is about to happen.
- Means: A sudden intuition or 'sixth sense' about a future event.
- Used in: Predicting bad news, calling someone right before they contact you.
- Don't confuse: Not used for logical predictions or purely happy surprises.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
A gut feeling or intuition that something is about to happen.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Mushi' (bugs) is used in many idioms to describe emotions that feel beyond our control, like anger or dislike. The 'Three Worms' belief suggests that these spirits report your sins to the heavens while you sleep. In anime, a character's 'mushi no shirase' is often a plot device to signal that the protagonist is in trouble. Many Japanese people still take these 'hunches' seriously, often calling home if they feel a 'mushi no shirase.'
Use it for 'Bad' things
If you want to sound like a native, only use this for ominous or serious hunches. Using it for 'I have a hunch I'll get a free coffee' sounds slightly off.
The 'Mushi' Universe
Japanese has many 'mushi' idioms. Learning them together helps you understand the traditional Japanese view of the soul.
Use it for 'Bad' things
If you want to sound like a native, only use this for ominous or serious hunches. Using it for 'I have a hunch I'll get a free coffee' sounds slightly off.
The 'Mushi' Universe
Japanese has many 'mushi' idioms. Learning them together helps you understand the traditional Japanese view of the soul.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
{急|きゅう}に{祖母|そぼ}のことが{心配|しんぱい}になった。これは（ ）かもしれない。
‘{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ’ is used for premonitions about people.
Which situation is the most natural for '{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ'?
Choose the best context:
It must be an unexplainable, often negative premonition.
Complete the dialogue.
A: どうして{昨日|きのう}、{僕|ぼく}に{連絡|れんらく}したの？ B: （ ）で、{君|きみ}が{困|こま}っているような{気|き}がしたんだ。
In this context, '{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ' acts as the reason (implied 'de').
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices{急|きゅう}に{祖母|そぼ}のことが{心配|しんぱい}になった。これは（ ）かもしれない。
‘{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ’ is used for premonitions about people.
Choose the best context:
It must be an unexplainable, often negative premonition.
A: どうして{昨日|きのう}、{僕|ぼく}に{連絡|れんらく}したの？ B: （ ）で、{君|きみ}が{困|こま}っているような{気|き}がしたんだ。
In this context, '{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ' acts as the reason (implied 'de').
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsGenerally, no. It sounds too superstitious for professional logic. Use 'yokan' or 'chokkan' instead.
No, that's not natural. Use 'yoi yokan' for positive feelings.
In the past, yes, people believed in spiritual insects. Today, it's purely metaphorical.
Sixth sense (dairokkan) is more general. Mushi no shirase is specifically a 'notification' about an event.
Yes, but often in a slightly dramatic or joking way, or when talking about serious family matters.
Yes, you can say you felt it. 'Mushi no shirase ga shita.'
Yes, 'mushi ga shiraseru,' but it's more literary.
No, that 'mushi' comes from '蒸す' (to steam). Different kanji!
You could use it if the hunch was very strong and unexplainable, but 'yokan' is more common for tests.
'Iya na mushi no shirase ga suru' or simply 'Iya na yokan ga suru.'
Expressions liées
{虫|むし}が{騒|さわ}ぐ
similarTo have an ill-defined feeling of unease.
{胸騒|むなさわ}ぎ
synonymApprehension or a fluttering heart.
{予感|よかん}
similarPremonition.
{第六感|だいろっかん}
similarSixth sense.
Où l'utiliser
Calling a family member
A: どうして{急|きゅう}に{電話|でんわ}したの？
B: なんだか{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせがして、{心配|しんぱい}になったんだ。
Avoiding an accident
A: あの{電車|でんしゃ}に{乗|の}らなくてよかったね。
B: うん、{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせかな。{乗|の}りたくないって{思|おも}ったんだ。
Finding a lost item
A: あ、ここに{鍵|かぎ}があった！
B: {虫|むし}の{知|し}らせだね。よく{見|み}つけたね。
Job interview anxiety
A: {面接|めんせつ}、どうだった？
B: {嫌|いや}な{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせがするよ。たぶんダメだった。
Social media post
User: {今日|きょう}は{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせを{信|しん}じて、{家|いえ}でゆっくりします。#直感
Dating app context
A: あの{人|ひと}、どう？
B: うーん、{虫|むし}が{好|す}かないというか、{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせでやめておくよ。
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a tiny 'bug' (mushi) inside you sending a 'notification' (shirase) to your brain like a smartphone alert.
Association visuelle
Imagine a small, glowing cricket sitting on your shoulder, whispering into your ear just before your phone rings with news.
Rhyme
Mushi no shirase, bad news on the way-se.
Story
You are about to board a plane. Suddenly, a tiny bug in your heart starts buzzing loudly. You decide not to board. Later, you hear the flight was delayed by 10 hours. That was the 'Mushi no shirase' saving your day.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'gut feeling' or 'my sixth sense is tingling.' In French, 'mon petit doigt m'a dit' (my little finger told me) is similar but used for knowing secrets rather than premonitions.
Word Web
Défi
Try to remember a time you had a hunch. Write one sentence in Japanese starting with '{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせで...'
Review this phrase whenever you feel a sudden hunch or see an insect!
Prononciation
Standard 'mushi'.
Four syllables, flat pitch.
Spectre de formalité
{何|なに}か{良|よ}からぬことが{起|お}こるのではないかという、{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせがございました。 (Reacting to a bad event)
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせか、{何|なに}か{嫌|いや}な{予感|よかん}がしました。 (Reacting to a bad event)
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせかな、なんかヤバいって{思|おも}ったんだ。 (Reacting to a bad event)
マジで{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせ。ピンときたわ。 (Reacting to a bad event)
Originates from the 'Sanshi' (Three Worms) doctrine of Taoism, which entered Japan in the 7th-8th century. These worms were said to live in the head, chest, and abdomen.
Le savais-tu ?
There are over 20 Japanese idioms that use the word 'mushi' to describe human feelings!
Notes culturelles
The concept of 'Mushi' (bugs) is used in many idioms to describe emotions that feel beyond our control, like anger or dislike.
“{虫|むし}の{居所|いどころ}が{悪|わる}い (To be in a bad mood/The bug is in a bad place).”
The 'Three Worms' belief suggests that these spirits report your sins to the heavens while you sleep.
“This is why people stayed awake during 'Koshin-machi' nights.”
In anime, a character's 'mushi no shirase' is often a plot device to signal that the protagonist is in trouble.
“A character dropping a tea cup often accompanies this phrase.”
Many Japanese people still take these 'hunches' seriously, often calling home if they feel a 'mushi no shirase.'
“It is seen as a sign of a strong family bond.”
Amorces de conversation
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせを{信|しん}じますか？
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせで、{助|たす}かったことはありますか？
Erreurs courantes
{良|よ}い{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせがありました。
{良|よ}い{予感|よかん}がしました。
L1 Interference
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせをしました。
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせがありました。
L1 Interference
{天気予報|てんきよほう}は{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせです。
{天気予報|てんきよほう}は{予想|よそう}です。
L1 Interference
{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせを{食|た}べた。
N/A
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Gut feeling / Sixth sense
English uses the 'gut' (stomach), Japanese uses 'bugs' (internal spirits).
Corazonada
Spanish is heart-centric; Japanese is bug/spirit-centric.
Pressentiment
French is more formal/abstract; Japanese uses a concrete 'bug' metaphor.
Vorahnung
German is a compound noun; Japanese is a possessive phrase.
حدس (Hads)
Arabic is more focused on the mental act of intuiting.
预感 (Yùgǎn)
Chinese lacks the specific 'bug' (虫) imagery found in the Japanese idiom.
예감 (Yegam)
Korean uses 'chok' for sharp intuition, while Japanese uses 'mushi' for the source.
Pressentimento
Portuguese is more Latin-based and abstract.
Spotted in the Real World
“{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせってやつか...”
Conan feels something is wrong just before a crime is discovered.
“それはまさに{虫|むし}の{知|し}らせだった。”
Banana Yoshimoto uses it to describe the protagonist's feeling about a death.
Facile à confondre
Both start with 'Mushi no...'
‘Shirase’ is a message (intuition); ‘Idokoro’ is a place (mood).
Both involve 'mushi' and feelings.
‘Mushi ga sukanai’ is about disliking a person for no reason.
Questions fréquentes (10)
Generally, no. It sounds too superstitious for professional logic. Use 'yokan' or 'chokkan' instead.
usage contextsNo, that's not natural. Use 'yoi yokan' for positive feelings.
common mistakesIn the past, yes, people believed in spiritual insects. Today, it's purely metaphorical.
basic understandingSixth sense (dairokkan) is more general. Mushi no shirase is specifically a 'notification' about an event.
comparisonsYes, but often in a slightly dramatic or joking way, or when talking about serious family matters.
cultural usageYes, you can say you felt it. 'Mushi no shirase ga shita.'
grammar mechanicsYes, 'mushi ga shiraseru,' but it's more literary.
grammar mechanicsNo, that 'mushi' comes from '蒸す' (to steam). Different kanji!
basic understandingYou could use it if the hunch was very strong and unexplainable, but 'yokan' is more common for tests.
practical tips'Iya na mushi no shirase ga suru' or simply 'Iya na yokan ga suru.'
practical tips
