気持ち
きもち
kimochi
= feeling; mood; sensation; emotion
Kimochi (気持ち) captures something more immediate than a general emotion — it is the feeling of this exact moment, right now. Whether it is the physical relief of a cool breeze on a hot day or the quiet ache of longing, kimochi homes in on present-tense inner experience. Two of its most iconic compounds, kimochi ii (feels good) and kimochi warui (feels bad / disgusting), extend that reach deep into bodily sensation, showing just how fluidly the word bridges mind and body.
Kimochi (気持ち) primarily means a feeling, mood, or sensation in the present moment. It differs from kanjou (感情), which refers to emotion as a broader psychological state or category. Kimochi is more personal, fleeting, and somatic — you can have a kimochi about weather, food, or a song, not just about grief or love.
In casual speech it often appears as a standalone exclamation: kimochi ii! (that feels great!) or kimochi warui (that feels gross / I feel sick). In polite contexts it shifts toward emotional empathy: okyakusama no kimochi wo kangaeru — considering the feelings of the customer.
It can also denote a slight degree in set phrases: kimochi hayame ni means “a little earlier than usual,” showing that the word’s core sense of subtle inner calibration has even leaked into expressions of degree.
Learners often confuse kimochi with kanjou (感情) and kibun (気分). Kanjou is the more clinical or literary term for emotion as a class (anger, joy, sadness). Kibun overlaps closely with kimochi but leans toward overall mood or physical condition — you would say kibun ga warui to mean “I feel unwell” in a general sense, but kimochi warui when something specific is making you feel disgusted or nauseated.
Also note that kimochi is a noun, so you need a verb to complete a sentence: kimochi ga ii (the feeling is good) is more grammatically explicit, while the clipped kimochi ii! is natural in spoken or written casual Japanese but would sound abrupt in formal writing.
気持ち is written with two kanji. 気 (ki) carries the meaning of spirit, vital energy, atmosphere, or mood — it appears in dozens of compound words related to mind and feeling, from 元気 (genki, energetic) to 天気 (tenki, weather). Its traditional pictograph depicted steam rising from rice, suggesting an invisible but real force. 持 (mo/mochi) means to hold or to carry, derived from a character showing a hand gripping an object. Together, 気持ち literally evokes “holding one’s ki” — the idea that a feeling is something you carry inside you at a given moment, not an abstract category but a living, present-tense experience.
Everyday use
自分の気持ちを正直に伝えることが、いい関係を築く第一歩だと思う。
Jibun no kimochi wo shoujiki ni tsutaeru koto ga, ii kankei wo kizuku daiippo da to omou.
I think being honest about your feelings is the first step to building a good relationship.
Casual / Social Media
今日は朝から晴れてて風も気持ちいい！散歩日和すぎる☀️
Kyou wa asa kara harete kaze mo kimochi ii! Sanpo biyori sugiru.
It’s been sunny since this morning and the breeze feels amazing — perfect day for a walk!
Formal / Cultural context
お客様の気持ちに寄り添い、最善のご提案ができるよう努めてまいります。
Okyakusama no kimochi ni yorisoi, saizen no go-teian ga dekiru you tsutomete mairimasu.
We will make every effort to understand our customers’ feelings and offer the best possible recommendations.
Japanese has several words for inner states, but kimochi and kanjou (感情) occupy distinct territory. Kanjou is used in psychological, literary, or formal contexts to name an emotion as a category — anger, sadness, joy. Kimochi is what you actually experience in the moment. A therapist might ask about your kanjou in a session, but a friend asking “how are you feeling right now?” would naturally say ima no kimochi wa? The distinction reflects a broader Japanese cultural preference for situational, present-tense awareness over abstract self-categorization.
Kimochi ii and kimochi warui are among the most versatile expressions in everyday Japanese. Kimochi ii describes physical pleasure — a hot bath, a satisfying stretch, a cool drink in summer — but also emotional relief or aesthetic appreciation. Kimochi warui covers physical nausea, moral disgust, and the creeping discomfort of an uncanny or socially awkward situation. The fact that both bodily and emotional reactions share the same root word reflects the Japanese tendency to treat mind and body as a continuous, unified experience rather than separate domains.
The phrase kimochi wo komeru (気持ちを込める — to put one’s feelings into something) is central to Japanese gift-giving and craft culture. Handmade items, carefully wrapped presents, and meticulously prepared food are all described as having kimochi embedded in them. This is not mere sentimentality — it reflects a widely shared belief that effort and sincerity transfer into objects and acts, and that recipients can sense this invisible quality. The concept underpins everything from omiyage (souvenir) culture to the artisanal pride of traditional crafts.