精神
せいしん
seishin
= mind; spirit; soul; psyche; mentality
精神 (seishin) occupies a uniquely philosophical space in Japanese, standing opposite to 肉体 (nikutai, the physical body) as the non-material dimension of human existence. Beyond this body-mind duality, 精神 lives inside a rich family of compound expressions — 武士道精神 (the spirit of bushido), スポーツマン精神 (sportsmanship) — where it names not just a mental state but the defining ethos of an entire way of life.
精神 carries three overlapping senses that English speakers often need to distinguish. First, it refers to the mind or psyche as the rational, conscious dimension of a person — the domain of thought, will, and mental health (精神科, psychiatry, literally belongs here). Second, it means mental strength or willpower — the inner fortitude that keeps a person going under pressure. Third, in the pattern 〜精神, it translates as “the spirit of〜”: 武士道精神 (the spirit of bushido), 協調精神 (the spirit of cooperation). Compared with 心 (kokoro), which carries warmth and emotional depth, 精神 is cooler and more philosophical — closer to “psyche” or “intellect” than to “heart.” This distinction matters: saying 心が痛い conveys emotional pain, while 精神的に疲れた points to psychological or cognitive exhaustion.
The adjective form 精神的な (seishinteki na) means “mental” or “psychological” and is the go-to word for expressions like “mental damage” (精神的ダメージ) or “mentally strong” (精神的に強い). 精神科 (seishinka) is the psychiatry department at a hospital — knowing this reading helps in medical contexts. Remember the kokoro vs. seishin split: 心 for emotional, personal feelings; 精神 for the clinical, philosophical, or willpower sense. Mixing them up sounds odd — you would say 精神的に不安定 (psychologically unstable), not 心的に不安定 in formal writing.
The character 精 (sei) combines the rice radical 米 with 青 (blue/pure), originally suggesting something refined, pure, or concentrated — as in 精製 (purification) or 精妙 (exquisite). 神 (shin/kami) means god or the supernatural, evoking an invisible, transcendent force. Together, 精神 literally suggests a refined, god-like power of the inner self — a neatly poetic etymology for a word that covers everything from everyday mental health to warrior philosophy.
Everyday use
マラソンは体力だけでなく、精神力も試されるスポーツだ。
Marason wa tairyoku dake de naku, seishinryoku mo tamersareru supōtsu da.
Marathon running is a sport that tests not only physical endurance but also mental strength.
Formal / Cultural context
武士道精神の核心は、死を恐れず己の義を貫くことにある。
Bushidō seishin no kakushin wa, shi wo osorezu onore no gi wo tsuranuku koto ni aru.
The core of the bushido spirit lies in upholding one’s own sense of duty without fear of death.
Casual / Social Media
最近精神的に疲れてる…みんなはメンタル保つためにどうしてる？
Saikin seishinteki ni tsukareteru… minna wa mentaru tamotsu tame ni dō shiteru?
Feeling mentally drained lately… how does everyone manage to keep their mental health in check?
Japan has a long tradition of 精神主義 — the cultural emphasis on mental fortitude over material conditions. In school sports clubs (部活動, bukatsu), coaches historically demanded that students push through pain and exhaustion by sheer 精神力, the belief being that a strong spirit overcomes physical limits. Phrases like 根性を見せろ (show your grit) echo this value. While this tradition instilled discipline and resilience, it also produced a culture where admitting psychological struggle was seen as a sign of weakness rather than a health concern.
In recent years, public attitudes toward 精神的な問題 (mental health issues) have shifted noticeably. Younger generations are increasingly open about seeking help at 精神科 clinics or discussing 精神的な疲れ on social media, a departure from the silence that surrounded these topics for decades. High-profile athletes and celebrities speaking openly about their own mental health have accelerated this change, repositioning 精神 not as an unconquerable warrior ideal but as something that, like the body, requires careful and ongoing care.