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B1 noun #1,500 most common 2 min read

エネルギー

Practice it Notes & Tips

§ What does エネルギー mean?

エネルギー (enerugī) is a common Japanese noun that directly translates to "energy" in English. It's a loanword, so you'll notice it sounds very similar to the English word. This makes it quite easy to remember!

DEFINITION
Energy.

§ How to use エネルギー in sentences

You can use エネルギー in many contexts, just like "energy" in English. It can refer to physical energy, mental energy, or even abstract concepts like the energy of a country or a system.

今日はたくさんのエネルギーが必要です。

Hint: Today, I need a lot of energy.

彼はいつもエネルギーに満ちている。

Hint: He is always full of energy.

この機械はたくさんのエネルギーを使います。

Hint: This machine uses a lot of energy.

§ Similar words and when to use them

While エネルギー is a straightforward translation for "energy," there are other Japanese words that might express similar ideas depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Let's look at some of them.

  • 元気 (genki): This word also relates to energy, but it often refers specifically to someone's health, vigor, or cheerfulness. If you ask someone "お元気ですか？" (Ogenki desu ka?), you're asking "How are you?" or "Are you well/energetic?". You wouldn't typically use エネルギー in this context.

    • 彼はいつも元気です。

    Hint: He is always energetic/healthy.

  • 体力 (tairyoku): This word specifically means "physical strength" or "stamina." While it's a form of energy, it's limited to the physical aspect. If you're talking about running a marathon, you'd probably discuss 体力, not just general エネルギー.

    • もっと体力をつけたいです。

    Hint: I want to build more physical strength/stamina.

  • 気力 (kiryoku): This term refers to "willpower," "mental energy," or "spirit." It's about the drive and determination to do something, often when facing challenges.

    • 彼は気力があるから、きっと成功するでしょう。

    Hint: He has willpower/mental energy, so he will surely succeed.

When to use エネルギー:

  • For general concepts of energy (e.g., renewable energy, nuclear energy).
  • When discussing the overall vitality or power of something (a machine, an economy, a person's general energy level).
  • When you mean "energy" in a very broad, scientific, or abstract sense.

In summary, while エネルギー is your go-to for the direct translation of "energy," keep 元気, 体力, and 気力 in mind for more specific contexts related to well-being, physical strength, and mental fortitude. Choosing the right word will make your Japanese sound much more natural!

Grammar to Know

Particles like 「は」 (wa) or 「が」 (ga) indicate the topic or subject of a sentence. For 'エネルギー', you might say something like 「エネルギーは大切です。」 (Enerugī wa taisetsu desu.) - Energy is important.

「エネルギーはとても大切です。」 (Enerugī wa totemo taisetsu desu.) - Energy is very important.

Verbs like 「使う」 (tsukau - to use) often combine with 'エネルギー'. For instance, 「エネルギーを使う」 (enerugī o tsukau) means 'to use energy'. The particle 「を」 (o) marks the direct object.

「電気をたくさん使うと、エネルギーをたくさん使います。」 (Denki o takusan tsukau to, enerugī o takusan tsukaimasu.) - If you use a lot of electricity, you use a lot of energy.

Adjectives can describe 'エネルギー'. For example, 「大きいエネルギー」 (ōkii enerugī) means 'large energy'. The adjective comes directly before the noun.

「この機械は大きいエネルギーが必要です。」 (Kono kikai wa ōkii enerugī ga hitsuyō desu.) - This machine needs a lot of energy.

You can express a lack of energy with phrases like 「エネルギーがない」 (enerugī ga nai - no energy) or 「エネルギーが足りない」 (enerugī ga tarinai - not enough energy).

「今日はエネルギーがないから、早く寝ます。」 (Kyō wa enerugī ga nai kara, hayaku nemasu.) - I don't have energy today, so I'll go to bed early.

To ask about energy levels or needs, you might use question words. For instance, 「どんなエネルギーが必要ですか？」 (Donna enerugī ga hitsuyō desu ka?) - What kind of energy is needed?

「どんなエネルギーが必要ですか？」 (Donna enerugī ga hitsuyō desu ka?) - What kind of energy is needed?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, エネルギー is a loanword from English, so it is always written in katakana. You won't see it in hiragana or kanji.

No, エネルギー is quite neutral. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts without issue. It's a standard term.

While エネルギー is the most common and versatile, you might also hear 元気 (genki), which means 'lively' or 'healthy energy', often used for people. For more technical or scientific 'energy', エネルギー is definitely the go-to.

Absolutely! You can say someone has a lot of エネルギー to mean they are enthusiastic and full of drive. For example, 「彼は仕事にたくさんのエネルギーを注いでいる」(He pours a lot of energy into his work).

Since it sounds just like 'energy', the best way is to remember that direct connection. Practice saying it out loud and associating it with the English word. It's an easy one!

You can say エネルギー不足 (enerugii busoku) which literally means 'energy shortage' or 'lack of energy'. For a more general feeling of tiredness, you might use 疲れている (tsukareteiru).

Yes, it's very common! You'll hear it used when talking about personal vigor, physical power, or even in environmental discussions about energy resources. It's a fundamental word.

Yes, definitely. You can use エネルギー for electrical energy, as in 電力エネルギー (denryoku enerugii) or simply 電気 (denki) for electricity.

エネルギー is the capacity for power or strength. While they are related, エネルギー is more about the intrinsic capability or fuel, whereas 力 (chikara) is more about the physical force or power exerted. Think of energy as the fuel that creates power.

A common one is エネルギーを充電する (enerugii o juuden suru), meaning 'to recharge energy,' like when you need to rest or eat. You might also hear エネルギーを消費する (enerugii o shouhi suru), 'to consume energy'.

Test Yourself 6 questions

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 私は エネルギーを 感じます

This sentence means 'I feel energy.' The particles を and は mark the object and subject respectively.

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: この 食べ物は エネルギーが あります

This sentence means 'This food has energy.' The particle が marks the subject of the existence verb あります.

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: もっと エネルギーが 必要です

This sentence means 'I need more energy.' もっと means 'more' and 必要です means 'is necessary/needed'.

/ 6 correct

Perfect score!

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