Speak about mental health in Japanese: A Tutor's view

2 July 2024

Learning a new language means expanding your vocabulary in order to describe many aspects of life and convey different feelings. There are many of mentally health and wellness terms in Japanese that might be quite useful to understand.

You can consult online Japanese tutors at website to practice Japanese phrases. You can choose a topic of interest and practice both speaking and learning the necessary words and expressions with teachers to be able to express your thoughts and desires in real life.

Japanese phrases related to mental health 

1. 精神衛生 (せいしんえいせい – Seishin Eisei). Known sometimes as "mental hygiene," this phrase deals with preserving and enhancing mental health.
2. 最近、多くの会社が従業員の精神衛生の重要性に気付き始めています。. Many businesses have started to understand how important it is for their staff to be mentally well nowadays.
3. ストレス (ストレス – Sutoresu). “ストレス”, a phrase borrowed from English, is often used in Japan to characterize mental or emotional pressure.
4. テストの前には、いつもたくさんのストレスを感じます。. I always get somewhat anxious before an exam.
5. 不安 (ふあん – Fuan). Originally "anxiety" or "uneasiness," this term is used to characterize worries about the future or a specific circumstance.
6. 明日の発表について不安があります。. The presentation tomorrow worries me.
7. 抑うつ (よくうつ – Yokuutsu). English translation of "憑うつ" is "depression." That's a therapeutic word for a depressed mood and dislike of exercise.
8. 彼女は抑うつのためにカウンセリングを受けています。. She is getting depression counseling.
9. 自己肯定感 (じここうていかん – Jikokouteikan). That's "self-esteem" or "self-affirmation." It has to do with how subjectively a person assesses their value.
10. ポジティブなフィードバックは自己肯定感を高めるのに役立ちます。. Good comments boosts self-esteem.

These Japanese terms for mental health and wellbeing will deepen your grasp of Japanese culture in addition to enabling you to communicate more effectively on a subject that is becoming more and more important worldwide. Recall that one aspect of language acquisition is mastery of grammar and syntax; another is understanding the subtleties of conveying human experiences in that language.