Translation and Meaning of: 心 - kokoro

The Japanese word 心[こころ] is one of those that carries a deep and culturally rich meaning. If you are learning Japanese or are just curious about the language, understanding what this word represents can open doors to a better understanding of the Japanese mindset. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, everyday usage, and even how it appears in expressions and philosophies of Japan. If you are looking for a reliable dictionary to deepen your studies, Suki Nihongo is a great reference.

The meaning and essence of 心[こころ]

In its most direct translation, 心[こころ] means "heart," but not in the literal sense of the organ. It refers to the heart as a symbol of emotions, mind, and spirit. The Japanese use this word to talk about feelings, intentions, and even the essence of a person. For example, when someone says "心が痛む" (kokoro ga itamu), it means that the heart hurts, which means the person is suffering emotionally.

The interesting thing is that 心[こころ] is not limited to individual emotions. It also appears in collective concepts, such as "和の心" (wa no kokoro), which refers to the spirit of harmony highly valued in Japanese culture. This word is so versatile that it can be used in philosophical, religious, and even everyday contexts.

The origin and the kanji for 心[こころ]

The kanji 心 has an ancient history, dating back to Chinese writing. It represents a stylized heart and is used in both Japanese and Chinese with similar meanings. Interestingly, this kanji also appears as a radical in other words related to emotions and thoughts, such as 思う (omou - to think) and 感じる (kanjiru - to feel).

In the Japanese language, 心[こころ] is one of the oldest and most fundamental words. It appears in classical texts such as the "Manyoshu," an anthology of Japanese poetry from the 8th century. This shows how the concept of "kokoro" has always been central to Japanese culture, influencing everything from literature to philosophy.

Everyday use and expressions with 心[こころ]

In daily life, Japanese people use 心[こころ] in various expressions. One of the most common is "心配" (shinpai), which means "worry." Another example is "心地よい" (kokochi yoi), which describes a pleasant or comfortable sensation. These combinations show how the word is ingrained in everyday vocabulary.

Moreover, 心[こころ] appears in proverbs and popular sayings. One example is "初心忘るべからず" (shoshin wasuru bekarazu), which means "never forget your initial heart," or in other words, stay true to your principles. These expressions emphasize the cultural significance of this word in Japanese communication.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• こころ (kokoro) - Heart; mind; spirit
• しん (shin) - Spirit; heart (in the sense of feelings); new
• しんぞう (shinzou) - Heart (organ); used in medical contexts
• しんぱい (shinpai) - Worry; anxiety (related to feeling)
• しんせい (shinsei) - Seriousness; sincerity (in relation to the heart and feelings)
• しんりん (shinrin) - Forest; a place that can soothe the heart
• しんそう (shinsou) - Senses; leads to emotions and feelings
• しんぞく (shinzoku) - Attachment; linked to the feeling of belonging (related to the heart)

心

Romaji: kokoro
Kana: こころ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: mind; heart; spirit

Meaning in English: mind;heart;spirit

Definition: The essential part of a person's thoughts and emotions. It refers to emotions, consciousness, etc.

Example Sentences - (心) kokoro

See below some example sentences:

瞳を見つめると心が落ち着く。

Hitomi wo mitsumeru to kokoro ga ochitsuku

When I look in the eyes

Looking into my eyes, my heart calms down.

• 瞳 - means "pupil" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 見つめる - a verb that means "to stare" in Japanese.
• と - connecting particle in Japanese.
• 心 - means "heart" or "mind" in Japanese.
• が - subject particle in Japanese.
• 落ち着く - a verb that means "to calm down" or "to be serene" in Japanese.

瞑ることで心を落ち着かせることができます。

Meiru koto de kokoro wo ochitsukaseru koto ga dekimasu

You can calm your heart closing.

• 瞑る (hirou) - close your eyes
• ことで (koto de) - through
• 心 (kokoro) - heart, mind
• を (wo) - object particle
• 落ち着かせる (ochitsukaseru) - calm down
• ことができます (koto ga dekimasu) - it is possible to do

私の心は深い谷に落ちる。

Watashi no kokoro wa fukai tani ni ochiru

My heart falls into a deep valley.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 心 - noun "heart"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 深い - adjective "deep"
• 谷 - noun "valley"
• に - location particle "in"
• 落ちる - verb "to fall"

私の心にはいつも幸せが浮かびます。

Watashi no kokoro ni wa itsumo shiawase ga ukabimasu

Happiness always comes to my heart.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two words
• 心 (kokoro) - Japanese noun meaning "heart" or "mind"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle indicating action or direction
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• いつも (itsumo) - Japanese adverb meaning "always"
• 幸せ (shiawase) - Japanese noun meaning "happiness"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 浮かびます (ukabimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to float" or "to come to mind" in the present tense and polite

私の内心は複雑です。

Watashi no naishin wa fukuzatsu desu

My inner heart is complicated.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words
• 内心 (naishin) - noun that means "inner feelings" or "intimate thoughts"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my inner feelings"
• 複雑 (fukuzatsu) - adjective meaning "complex" or "complicated"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal way of affirming something in Japanese

私の専攻は心理学です。

Watashi no senkou wa shinrigaku desu

My major is psychology.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession or a relationship between two things, in this case, "my"
• 専攻 (senkou) - noun meaning "specialization" or "main field of study"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "regarding my field of study"
• 心理学 (shinrigaku) - noun meaning "psychology"
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating existence or identity, in this case "is"

私の専門は心理学です。

Watashi no senmon wa shinrigaku desu

My specialty is psychology.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "mine"
• 専門 (senmon) - noun that means "specialty"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "about"
• 心理学 (shinrigaku) - noun meaning "psychology"
• です (desu) - verb that indicates to be, in this case "is"

私は神に心を捧げる。

Watashi wa kami ni kokoro wo sasageru

I dedicate my heart to God.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 神 (kami) - noun that means "god"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the target of the action, in this case "to"
• 心 (kokoro) - noun that means "heart"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "to dedicate"
• 捧げる (sasageru) - verb that means "to dedicate"

私は野心を持っています。

Watashi wa yashin wo motte imasu

I have ambition.

I have ambitious.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 野心 (yashin) - It means "ambition" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 持っています (motteimasu) - means "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese, in the present and polite tense

私は決心をしました。

Watashi wa kesshin o shimashita

I have made a decision.

I decided.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 決心 - Japanese noun that means "decision"
• を - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "decision"
• しました - Japanese verb in the past that means "decided"