1.
restless; unable to calm down; uneasy
Describes a state of feeling unsettled, fidgety, or anxious. Can refer to a person's mental state or to an environment that feels unstable or uncomfortable.
試験前で落ち着かない。
I'm restless because of the exam coming up.
子供が落ち着かなくて困っている。
I'm having trouble because the child can't sit still.
結果が気になって、一日中落ち着かなかった。
I was anxious about the results and couldn't settle down all day.
The negative form of 落ち着く (to calm down, to settle). As an expression, it describes a state of being unable to relax — whether from anxiety, excitement, or an uncomfortable environment.
USAGE:
Can describe inner feelings (nervousness before an event) or outward behavior (a fidgety child). Also used for places or atmospheres that feel unsettling or chaotic.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 気持ちが落ち着かない — to feel uneasy
- そわそわして落ち着かない — to be fidgety and restless
- 落ち着かない雰囲気 — an unsettled atmosphere
SIMILAR WORDS:
- そわそわする — to be fidgety, restless; emphasizes visible nervous behavior
- 不安 — anxiety, unease; a noun describing the emotion itself
- 居ても立ってもいられない — unable to sit still; much stronger urgency than 落ち着かない