1.
a touch of anxiety; a slight unease; a lingering worry
A faint but persistent feeling of worry or concern. The word 一抹 means "a trace" or "a touch," so the expression conveys a small but nagging sense of unease.
一抹の不安を感じる。
I feel a touch of anxiety.
計画は順調だが、一抹の不安が残る。
The plan is going well, but a slight unease remains.
新しい仕事への期待と同時に、うまくやれるかどうか一抹の不安もあった。
Along with excitement about the new job, there was also a slight worry about whether I could do well.
USAGE:
一抹 literally means "one stroke" (of a brush), evoking the image of a thin, faint line. The expression is semi-literary and often appears in written Japanese, news articles, and formal speech. It conveys worry that is small but cannot be dismissed.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 一抹の不安を感じる (to feel a touch of anxiety)
- 一抹の不安が残る (a slight unease remains)
- 一抹の不安を覚える (to sense a slight unease)
- 一抹の寂しさ (a touch of loneliness — 一抹 can modify other feelings too)