1.
one's true feelings; what is in one's heart
A person's inner thoughts, feelings, or emotions that may not be expressed outwardly.
彼の心中を察する。
I can imagine what he's feeling inside.
心中複雑な思いでいっぱいだった。
My heart was full of complicated feelings.
母の心中を思うと胸が痛い。
It pains me to think about what my mother must be feeling.
敗れた選手の心中はいかばかりだろうか。
One can only imagine what the defeated athlete must be feeling inside.
Read as しんちゅう, this word means "one's inner feelings" or "what is in one's heart." It is a literary or formal expression often used when empathizing with someone's unspoken emotions. Not to be confused with the same kanji read as しんじゅう, which means "double suicide" or "lovers' suicide."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 心中を察する: imagine someone's feelings
- 心中を思う: think about someone's inner feelings
- 心中穏やかでない: one's feelings are not calm (uneasy)
- 心中複雑: having complicated feelings
- お心中お察しします: I can imagine how you must feel (formal sympathy)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 胸の内: what's inside one's chest (similar meaning, less formal)
- 本心: true feelings, real intention
- 内心: inwardly, in one's heart
CAUTION:
心中 (different reading) means "double suicide" or "lovers' suicide pact." Context and reading are critical to distinguish the two.
Related Words
Homophone:
心中 (same kanji, different reading)