Translation and Meaning of: 感じ - kanji

The Japanese word 感じ[かんじ] is one of those expressions that carries multiple layers of meaning, making it essential for anyone studying the language or interested in Japanese culture. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in everyday life, along with tips for memorizing it effectively. If you've ever wondered how the Japanese express sensations, impressions, or even intuitions, understanding 感じ is a great starting point.

The meaning and uses of 感じ

Kanji can be translated as "sensation," "impression," or "feeling," but its use goes far beyond that. It is a versatile word that appears in various contexts, from physical descriptions to subjective perceptions. For example, someone might say 寒い感じ (samui kanji) to express the "feeling of cold," or 優しい感じ (yasashii kanji) to describe an "impression of kindness."

The interesting thing is that 感じ can also indicate an intuition or vibe about something. If a Japanese person comments 変な感じ (hen na kanji), they are saying that something seems "strange" or "out of the ordinary." This flexibility makes the word frequently used in informal conversations, series, and even in deeper discussions about emotions and atmospheres.

The origin and writing of 感じ

The word 感じ is composed of the kanji 感 (kan), which means "to feel" or "perception," and じ (ji), a suffix that often turns verbs into nouns. Together, they form a term that encompasses both physical and emotional sensations. It's worth noting that 感 also appears in other important words, such as 感情 (kanjou – "emotion") and 感覚 (kankaku – "sensation").

From a linguistic point of view, 感じ has roots in classical Chinese, but its use in modern Japanese has consolidated as a common expression. The pronunciation かんじ (kanji) can cause confusion with the term 漢字 (kanji – "Chinese characters"), but the contexts of use are completely different, avoiding ambiguities in practice.

Tips to memorize and use 感じ

An effective way to solidify 感じ is to associate it with everyday situations. For example, when watching a movie or anime, pay attention when characters use this word to describe impressions. Phrases like いい感じ (ii kanji – "good feeling") or 違う感じ (chigau kanji – "different feeling") are common and help internalize the term.

Another tip is to practice with real-life examples. If you are learning Japanese, try creating simple sentences like この場所は落ち着いた感じだ (kono basho wa ochitsuita kanji da – "This place has a calm feeling"). The more you use it in natural contexts, the easier it will be to remember its meaning and application.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 感覚 (kankaku) - Sense, perception
• 感情 (kanjou) - Emotion, feeling
• 感度 (kando) - Sensitivity, degree of sensitivity
• 感受性 (kanjusei) - Receptivity, emotional sensitivity
• 感性 (kansei) - Aesthetic sensitivity, the ability to feel
• 感傷 (kanshou) - Melancholic feeling, nostalgia
• 感動 (kandou) - Emotion, deep commotion
• 感化 (kanka) - Emotional influence, persuasion
• 感応 (kanou) - Emotional resonance, empathy
• 感知 (kanchi) - Recognition, perception of sensations
• 感應 (kan'you) - Emotional response or call
• 感付 (kan'utsu) - Perception, emotional understanding
• 感じ取る (kanjitoru) - To grasp, to perceive something emotionally
• 感じ方 (kanjikata) - Way of feeling, manner of perceiving emotions

感じ

Romaji: kanji
Kana: かんじ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: feeling; meaning; impression

Meaning in English: feeling;sense;impression

Definition: A movement of the heart that comes from within.

Example Sentences - (感じ) kanji

See below some example sentences:

磁気は地球の磁場を感じることができます。

Jiki wa chikyū no jiba o kanjiru koto ga dekimasu

The magnetic can feel the Earth's magnetic field.

The magnetic can feel the Earth's magnetic field.

• 磁気 (jiki) - magnetism
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 地球 (chikyuu) - Earth
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 磁場 (jiba) - magnetic field
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 感じる (kanjiru) - feel
• ことができます (koto ga dekimasu) - Be able to

妙な感じですね。

Myō na kanji desu ne

It's a strange feeling.

• 妙な - strange, peculiar
• 感じ - sensation, feeling
• です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)
• ね - confirmation or rhetorical particle

未来の兆しを感じる。

Mirai no kizashi wo kanjiru

I feel the signs of the future.

• 未来 - future
• の - Possession particle
• 兆し - signal, indication
• を - direct object particle
• 感じる - feel

痛みを感じる。

Itami wo kanjiru

I feel pain.

Feel pain.

• 痛み (itami) - door
• を (wo) - Particle that indicates the object of the action
• 感じる (kanjiru) - feel

私は年をとっていると感じています。

Watashi wa toshi wo totte iru to kanjiteimasu

I feel like I'm getting older.

I feel old.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 年 (toshi) - noun that means "year"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "year"
• とっている (totteiru) - compound verb that means "to be aging"
• と (to) - particle that indicates the connection between the verb and the next term
• 感じています (kanjiteimasu) - compound verb that means "to feel"

私は彼女の愛を感じます。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjimasu

I feel her love.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" belongs to "her"
• 愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" is the direct object of the sentence
• 感じます (kanjimasu) - The verb in Japanese that means "to feel" is "感じる" (kanjiru).

私は彼女の愛を感じる。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjiru

I feel her love.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 - The noun that means "she" in Japanese is "彼女" (kanojo).
• の - possessive particle that indicates that "love" belongs to "her"
• 愛 - The noun that means "love" in Japanese is "愛" (ai).
• を - direct object particle that indicates that "love" is the object of the action
• 感じる - The verb that means "to feel" in Japanese is "感じる" (kanjiru).