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 just curious about the language, understanding what this word represents can open doors to a better understanding of the Japanese mentality. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, everyday use, and even how it appears in expressions and philosophies of Japan. If you are looking for a reliable dictionary to deepen your studies, the I love Japanese. it's 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)

Related words

安心

anshin

relief; mental tranquility

良心

ryoushin

consciousness

用心

youjin

care; precaution; guard; caution

野心

yashin

ambition; aspiration; designs; betrayal

真心

makokoro

sincerity; devotion

熱心

nesshin

zeal; enthusiasm

内心

naishin

innermost thoughts; real intention; most important heart; someone's mind; in the heart

都心

toshin

heart (of the city)

中心

chuushin

center; core; heart; pivot; emphasis; balance

自尊心

jisonshin

self-respect; presumption

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.

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How to Write in Japanese - (心) kokoro

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (心) kokoro:

Example Sentences - (心) kokoro

See below some example sentences:

私の心は固まっている。

Watashi no kokoro wa katamaru tte iru

My heart is hardened.

My heart is solidified.

私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
心 - Noun meaning "heart" or "mind" in Japanese
は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
固まっている - verb that means "to be hardened" or "to be frozen" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous form

鉄橋を渡ると風が心地よいです。

Tetsubashi wo wataru to kaze ga kokochi yoi desu

Crossing an iron bridge is pleasant with the wind.

The wind is comfortable when you cross the iron bridge.

鉄橋 - iron bridge
を - object particle
渡る - atravessar
と - connecting particle
風 - wind
が - subject particle
心地よい - pleasant, comfortable
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

純粋な心が大切です。

Junsui na kokoro ga taisetsu desu

A pure heart is important.

純粋な - means "pure" or "sincere"
心 - means "heart" or "mind"
が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
大切 - means "important" or "precious"
です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

素朴な心が大切です。

Sopoku na kokoro ga taisetsu desu

A pure and simple heart is important.

A simple heart is important.

素朴 (そぼく) - simplicity, innocence
な - Particle indicating adjective
心 (こころ) - heart, mind
が - particle that indicates subject
大切 (たいせつ) - important, valuable
です - verb to be in the polite form

私は彼女の関心を引くことができるだろうか。

Watashi wa kanojo no kanshin o hiku koto ga dekiru darou ka

Será que eu posso despertar o interesse dela?

Posso conseguir o interesse dela?

私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
彼女 - substantivo japonês que significa "ela" ou "namorada"
の - partícula japonesa que indica posse, neste caso "dela"
関心 - substantivo japonês que significa "interesse"
を - partícula japonesa que indica o objeto direto da frase, neste caso "interesse"
引く - verbo japonês que significa "atrair"
こと - substantivo japonês que significa "coisa" ou "fato"
が - partícula japonesa que indica o sujeito da frase, neste caso "eu"
できる - verbo japonês que significa "ser capaz de"
だろう - expressão japonesa que indica probabilidade ou incerteza, neste caso "será que"
か - partícula japonesa que indica uma pergunta

私の自尊心は高いです。

Watashi no jisonshin wa takai desu

My self -esteem is high.

私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
自尊心 - noun meaning "self-esteem" or "self-pride"
は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
高い - adjective that means "high" or "lofty" and, in this context, is used to describe the level of self-esteem
です - verb "to be" in the present tense, used to indicate that the sentence is in the present tense and that self-esteem is high