When you 悩む (naymu), it means you are worrying or feeling distressed about something. You might be struggling to make a decision or facing a problem that's causing you stress.
For example, if you can't decide which university to go to, you could say, 「大学選びに悩んでいます。」(Daigaku erabi ni nayande imasu.) - "I'm worried about choosing a university."
It's a common feeling, and everyone 悩む from time to time. This word perfectly captures that sense of inner struggle or mental discomfort.
When you're learning Japanese, you'll often encounter situations where someone is feeling troubled or uncertain. That's where the verb 悩む (naymu) comes in handy. It means 'to worry' or 'to be distressed' about something.
You can use 悩む when you're facing a difficult decision, struggling with a problem, or just feeling generally uneasy. It's a very common and practical verb to know for everyday conversations.
Think of it as expressing a state of mental discomfort or indecision. Mastering 悩む will help you better understand and express feelings of concern in Japanese.
When using the verb "悩む" (nayameru), it's important to understand the nuance it carries. While it can mean to worry, it often implies a deeper sense of distress, indecision, or being troubled by a problem that feels difficult to resolve. It's not just a fleeting worry, but a more significant mental struggle. You might use it when someone is agonizing over a big decision or deeply troubled by a personal issue.
Fun Fact
The kanji 悩 (nayami) itself means 'trouble' or 'distress'. The verb form 悩む (nayamu) directly conveys the action of experiencing this trouble.
Examples by Level
将来について悩んでいます。
I am worried about my future.
何をすればいいか分からなくて悩んだ。
I worried because I didn't know what to do.
彼は仕事のことで悩んでいるようです。
He seems to be distressed about his job.
友達関係で悩むことが多い。
I often worry about friendships.
試験の結果に悩まないでください。
Please don't worry about the exam results.
子供の進路について悩む親は多い。
Many parents worry about their children's career paths.
どっちの服を買うか悩んでいます。
I'm agonizing over which clothes to buy.
この問題は私を悩ませる。
This problem distresses me.
Often Confused With
While both express difficulty, 悩む is more about internal struggle/worry, and 困る is about being in a difficult external situation.
Both mean to worry. 悩む implies a deeper, often ongoing internal conflict or difficult decision, whereas 心配する can be a more general concern.
Both involve indecision. 悩む implies emotional distress over a choice, while 迷う is simply the act of being undecided or lost.
Grammar Patterns
Easily Confused
Often confused with other verbs that express negative feelings or problems.
悩む specifically means to worry, be troubled, or distressed about something, often involving a difficult decision or ongoing concern. It implies a state of internal struggle or pondering.
進路について悩んでいます。(しんろについて なやんでいます。) I'm worried about my career path.
Both express difficulty.
困る means to be in a difficult situation, to be troubled, or to be at a loss. It's often about an external circumstance causing inconvenience or distress, rather than an internal struggle. You might say '困った!' when something unexpected and inconvenient happens.
お金がなくて困っています。(おかねがなくて こまっています。) I'm troubled because I don't have money.
Both relate to worrying.
心配する means to worry or be concerned about something or someone. It's often a more general feeling of apprehension. While 悩む suggests a deeper, more personal internal conflict or decision, 心配する can be about external events or others' well-being.
試験の結果を心配しています。(しけんの けっかを しんぱいしています。) I'm worried about the test results.
Both involve uncertainty or indecision.
迷う means to get lost, to be perplexed, or to be undecided between choices. While 悩む focuses on the emotional distress of a difficult situation or decision, 迷う is more about the act of choosing or finding a path. You can 迷う without necessarily feeling deep distress.
どちらの服にするか迷っています。(どちらの ふくに するか まよっています。) I'm undecided about which clothes to wear.
Both indicate suffering.
苦しむ means to suffer, to be in pain, or to be distressed. It's a stronger term for suffering, often implying physical or severe emotional pain. 悩む is a lighter form of distress or worry, more about mental preoccupation than intense suffering.
病気で苦しんでいます。(びょうきで くるしんでいます。) I'm suffering from an illness.
Sentence Patterns
〜について悩む (nayami ni tsuite nayamu)
仕事について悩んでいます。(Shigoto ni tsuite nayande imasu.) - I'm worried about my job.
〜かどうか悩む (ka dou ka nayamu)
行くかどうか悩んでいます。(Iku ka dou ka nayande imasu.) - I'm deliberating whether to go.
〜べきか悩む (beki ka nayamu)
彼に話すべきか悩んでいます。(Kare ni hanasu beki ka nayande imasu.) - I'm agonizing over whether I should talk to him.
〜に悩まされる (ni nayamasareru)
騒音に悩まされています。(Sōon ni nayamasarete imasu.) - I'm being troubled by the noise.
〜と悩む (to nayamu)
どうすればいいかと悩んでいます。(Dō sureba ii ka to nayande imasu.) - I'm wondering what I should do.
〜に悩みを抱える (ni nayami o kakaeru)
彼女は人間関係に悩みを抱えています。(Kanojo wa ningen kankei ni nayami o kakaete imasu.) - She has worries about her relationships.
〜に頭を悩ませる (ni atama o nayamaseru)
この問題に頭を悩ませています。(Kono mondai ni atama o nayamasete imasu.) - I'm racking my brain over this problem.
〜と苦悩する (to kunō suru)
将来について苦悩しています。(Shōrai ni tsuite kunō shite imasu.) - I'm distressed about my future.
Tips
Basic Meaning of 悩む
The most common meaning of 悩む (nayami) is to worry or be distressed about something. It implies a state of mental discomfort or indecision.
Particle Usage with 悩む
When you worry about something specific, use the particle について (ni tsuite) or で (de) after the noun. For example, '仕事について悩む' (shigoto ni tsuite nayamu) means to worry about work.
悩む vs. 心配する
While similar to 心配する (shinpai suru - to worry), 悩む often implies a deeper, more prolonged state of mental struggle or quandary. 心配する can be more general and temporary.
Expressing Indecision with 悩む
悩む can also mean to be undecided or to agonize over a choice. For instance, 'どちらにするか悩む' (dochira ni suru ka nayamu) means to agonize over which to choose.
Common Phrases with 悩む
You'll often hear phrases like '悩みを抱える' (nayami o kakaeru - to have a worry) or '悩みを打ち明ける' (nayami o uchiakeru - to confide a worry).
Don't Confuse with Physical Pain
悩む is almost exclusively about mental or emotional distress. It's not typically used for physical pain like a headache.
Cultural Context of Expressing Worry
In Japanese culture, openly expressing deep worries can sometimes be less common than in some Western cultures. However, 悩む still describes a very human experience of internal struggle.
Using 悩み as a Noun
The noun form, 悩み (nayami), refers to a worry, trouble, or concern. For example, '私の悩みは…' (watashi no nayami wa...) means 'My worry is...'.
Negative Context of 悩む
悩む almost always carries a negative connotation, referring to an unpleasant state of mind. It's not used for positive deliberation.
Practice with Examples
Try making your own sentences using 悩む. For example: 「最近、将来について悩んでいます。」(Saikin, shōrai ni tsuite nayande imasu.) - 'Recently, I'm worrying about my future.'
Word Origin
Native Japanese word (Yamato kotoba)
Original meaning: To be troubled in mind, to be distressed by a problem.
JaponicCultural Context
The Japanese often use 悩む in situations where they are deliberating over a choice or experiencing mental anguish due to a problem. It can range from mild concern to deep distress, depending on the context. There's a cultural tendency to internalize worries, and 悩む reflects this internal struggle.
Test Yourself 60 questions
Choose the correct hiragana for 'worry'.
なやむ (nayamu) is the hiragana for the verb 'to worry' or 'be distressed'.
Which of these words means 'to worry'?
悩む (nayamu) means 'to worry' or 'be distressed'. The other options mean 'to eat', 'to drink', and 'to sleep' respectively.
How would you say 'I worry' in a simple way?
私は悩む (watashi wa nayamu) directly translates to 'I worry'. The particle 'は' (wa) marks '私' (watashi) as the topic.
悩む means 'to eat'.
悩む (nayamu) means 'to worry' or 'be distressed', not 'to eat'. 'To eat' is 食べる (taberu).
If someone is distressed, you can say they are 悩む.
悩む (nayamu) can mean 'to be distressed', so this statement is true.
The kanji 悩 is used in the word for 'to worry'.
The kanji 悩 is indeed part of the verb 悩む (nayamu), which means 'to worry'.
What do I like?
Whose book is this?
What is he?
Read this aloud:
こんにちは。
Focus: こ・ん・に・ち・は
You said:
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Read this aloud:
ありがとう。
Focus: あ・り・が・と・う
You said:
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Read this aloud:
さようなら。
Focus: さ・よ・う・な・ら
You said:
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I'm worried about my homework every day.
He seems to be worried about his job.
It's normal to worry about the future.
Read this aloud:
どうしてそんなに悩んでいるの？
Focus: 悩んでいる (nayan de iru)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
お金のことで悩んでいます。
Focus: お金 (okane)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
一人で悩まないでください。
Focus: 悩まないで (nayamanai de)
You said:
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Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 試験の結果が悪くて、とても___。
The sentence describes a negative outcome (bad exam results), so '悩んだ' (worried/distressed) is the most fitting verb. '笑った' (laughed), '遊んだ' (played), and '食べた' (ate) do not fit the context.
Which sentence correctly uses 悩む (nayami)?
悩む (nayami) is used for worrying or being distressed about something. '彼は将来について悩んでいます。' (He is worrying about his future.) correctly uses the verb. The other options use '悩む' in an incorrect context, as one doesn't worry about delicious food, fun movies, or new toys in the same way.
Fill in the blank with the best option: 仕事の選択で、私はしばらく___いました。
When making a difficult decision like a job choice, '悩んで' (worrying/being distressed) is the most appropriate action. '喜んで' (being happy), '走って' (running), and '歌って' (singing) do not fit the context of struggling with a decision.
「彼が試験に落ちたので、全然悩んでいません」is a natural sentence.
If someone fails an exam, it is natural to be worried or distressed. Therefore, '全然悩んでいません' (not worried at all) makes the sentence unnatural.
「友達との関係で悩むことがある」means 'Sometimes I worry about my relationships with friends.'
「友達との関係で悩むことがある」directly translates to 'Sometimes I worry/am distressed about my relationships with friends,' which accurately reflects the meaning of 悩む.
悩む is typically used for positive feelings.
悩む is used to express negative feelings like worry, distress, or being troubled, not positive feelings.
What is the speaker worried about?
What kind of problems does 'she' seem to have?
What does the speaker often worry about?
Read this aloud:
彼は進路について悩んでいます。
Focus: しんろ
You said:
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Read this aloud:
どんなことで悩んでいますか？
Focus: どんなことで
You said:
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Read this aloud:
一人で悩まずに、誰かに相談してください。
Focus: 一人で悩まずに
You said:
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You are preparing for a job interview and feel very worried. Write a short paragraph expressing your concerns and how you are trying to overcome them.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
就職の面接が近づいてきて、とても悩んでいます。合格できるかどうか、本当に心配です。でも、自信を持つために、できる限りの準備をしています。何度も練習して、質問にうまく答えられるように努力しています。
Your friend is struggling with a difficult decision about their future. Write an email offering advice and support, acknowledging their worries.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
お元気ですか。将来について悩んでいると聞きました。どんな決断も簡単ではないと思いますが、あなたの気持ちをよく理解できます。焦らず、じっくり考えてください。もし何か力になれることがあれば、いつでも相談してくださいね。いつも応援しています。
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult choice and how you felt while you were 고민ing (悩む) over it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
大学の専攻を選ぶ時、本当に悩みました。興味のある分野がいくつかあって、どれにしようか決められませんでした。将来のことも考えて、たくさん情報収集をしましたが、不安な気持ちでいっぱいでした。最終的には、自分の直感を信じて選びました。
Aさんは何について悩んでいますか？
Read this passage:
A: 最近、仕事のことで悩んでいるんだ。どうすればいいか分からなくて。 B: そうなんだ。何があったの？ A: 新しいプロジェクトのリーダーに指名されたんだけど、経験が足りるか心配で。重圧を感じているよ。 B: それは大変だね。でも、あなたはいつも一生懸命頑張る人だから、きっと大丈夫だよ。
Aさんは何について悩んでいますか？
Aさんは「新しいプロジェクトのリーダーに指名されたんだけど、経験が足りるか心配で」と述べており、これが悩みの原因です。
Aさんは「新しいプロジェクトのリーダーに指名されたんだけど、経験が足りるか心配で」と述べており、これが悩みの原因です。
田中さんが悩んでいる主な原因は何ですか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは、最近、子供の教育について深く悩んでいます。私立学校に進学させるべきか、公立学校のままでいいのか、どちらが良いのか結論が出せずにいます。夫と話し合っても意見が分かれるため、さらに頭を抱えています。
田中さんが悩んでいる主な原因は何ですか？
田中さんは「私立学校に進学させるべきか、公立学校のままでいいのか、どちらが良いのか結論が出せずにいます」とあり、子供の学校の選択が主な悩みです。夫との意見の不一致はその悩みを深めている要因の一つです。
田中さんは「私立学校に進学させるべきか、公立学校のままでいいのか、どちらが良いのか結論が出せずにいます」とあり、子供の学校の選択が主な悩みです。夫との意見の不一致はその悩みを深めている要因の一つです。
彼が悩んでいる最も大きな理由は何ですか？
Read this passage:
長年の夢だった海外留学のチャンスが巡ってきたが、会社を辞めるべきか、それともこのまま仕事を続けるべきか、彼はひどく悩んでいた。もし留学すればキャリアが中断され、帰国後の再就職も不安だ。しかし、この機会を逃せば一生後悔するかもしれない。
彼が悩んでいる最も大きな理由は何ですか？
彼は「会社を辞めるべきか、それともこのまま仕事を続けるべきか、彼はひどく悩んでいた。もし留学すればキャリアが中断され、帰国後の再就職も不安だ」と述べており、キャリアに関する決断が悩みの中心です。
彼は「会社を辞めるべきか、それともこのまま仕事を続けるべきか、彼はひどく悩んでいた。もし留学すればキャリアが中断され、帰国後の再就職も不安だ」と述べており、キャリアに関する決断が悩みの中心です。
将来について___必要はありません。
「悩む」は「心配する」という意味です。ここでは、将来について心配する必要がないという意味になります。
彼はいつも小さなことで___います。
「悩む」の進行形「悩んでいる」が適切です。彼はいつも小さなことで心配しているという意味です。
どうすればこの問題を___ことができるでしょうか。
「悩まずに」は「心配することなく」という意味で、問題を解決する方法を尋ねる文脈で自然です。
彼女は仕事のストレスで___いました。
「悩まされる」は「悩みの種にさせられる」という受身の形で、ストレスによって苦しめられている状況を表します。
選択肢が多くて、どれにしようか___。
選択肢が多い状況で決めるのが難しい時に「悩む」を使います。ここでは「悩んでいます」が適切です。
彼の言動に___ことがよくあります。
「悩まされる」は「〜によって悩みの種となる」という受身の形です。彼の言動によって心配させられることが多い、という意味になります。
The speaker is expressing concern about their future career.
The speaker is troubled by poor exam results.
The speaker often worries about their friendships.
Read this aloud:
最近、何か悩んでいることはありますか？
Focus: 悩んでいる
You said:
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Read this aloud:
どんなに悩んでも、解決策が見つからない時があります。
Focus: 解決策が見つからない
You said:
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Read this aloud:
一人で悩まず、誰かに相談してみましょう。
Focus: 一人で悩まず
You said:
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彼女は将来についてひどく悩んでいました。
「ひどく悩む」 means to worry deeply or intensely. The other options don't fit the nuance of 悩む.
人生の岐路に立ち、彼はどの道に進むべきか悩んだ。
「悩む」 in this context implies struggling with a decision, hence 'unsure which path to take' is the best fit.
この問題には誰もが頭を悩ませている。
「頭を悩ませる」 is an idiom meaning to be puzzled or troubled by something. The other options contradict this meaning.
「悩む」は、通常、ポジティブな感情を表す。
「悩む」は「to worry, be distressed」という意味であり、ネガティブな感情を表します。
友人の借金問題について、彼は深く悩んでいた、という文は正しい。
この文は、「悩む」を適切に使用しており、友人の借金問題に対して心配や苦悩を感じている状況を表しています。
「悩む」は、単純な選択肢の中から迷わず選ぶ状況で使う。
「悩む」は、選択肢が難しく、心の葛藤や迷いがある状況で使われます。単純な選択では使用しません。
This sentence means 'I'm worrying about my future.' The particle 'について' indicates 'about' or 'concerning.'
This sentence means 'No matter how much I worry, there are times when I can't find an answer.' 'どんなに〜ても' means 'no matter how much ~.'
This sentence means 'He was deeply distressed about his work.' '〜のことで' means 'about ~.'
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of 悩む
The most common meaning of 悩む (nayami) is to worry or be distressed about something. It implies a state of mental discomfort or indecision.
Particle Usage with 悩む
When you worry about something specific, use the particle について (ni tsuite) or で (de) after the noun. For example, '仕事について悩む' (shigoto ni tsuite nayamu) means to worry about work.
悩む vs. 心配する
While similar to 心配する (shinpai suru - to worry), 悩む often implies a deeper, more prolonged state of mental struggle or quandary. 心配する can be more general and temporary.
Expressing Indecision with 悩む
悩む can also mean to be undecided or to agonize over a choice. For instance, 'どちらにするか悩む' (dochira ni suru ka nayamu) means to agonize over which to choose.
Example
彼女は人間関係で悩んでいる。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
More emotions words
ぼんやり
B1Vaguely; absentmindedly; dimly.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1To accept; to take; to grasp.
達成感
B1Sense of accomplishment.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1To adapt; to adjust.
健気な
B2Brave, admirable, or plucky (especially of a weaker person).
感心な
B1Admirable; deserving admiration.
感心
B1Admiration, impression, or being impressed.
感心する
B1To be impressed; to admire.
