The Meaning of kinchou [緊張] In Japanese

緊張
きんちょう
Romaji: kinchou N4

What does 緊張 mean?

Translation and Meaning

tension, strain, nervousness

Definition

緊張 means a state of mental and physical arousal marked by heightened alertness and tension, encompassing nervous anticipation in social or performance contexts as well as the physical sensation of muscle tightness caused by stress.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • emotional tension kinchoukan — nervousness or anxiety about a situation
  • physical tension kinseikun — muscle tightness or stiffness
  • atmospheric tension kinjōkan — a tense or charged moment in a group or event
  • formal or constraining seriousness kinseisuru — a sense of constraint or severity

Etymology

緊 (tight) + 張 (to stretch) combine to express tightness and potential stretching; the compound yields the on’yomi kinchō leading to the modern pronunciation kinchō.

Composition

  • 緊: tight, dense, strict
  • 張: to stretch, to extend
  • Combination: a state of tightness that can manifest as mental alertness or physical stiffness, hence the meaning of tension or nervousness

Usage

Used across formal and casual contexts to describe nervousness, anticipation, or physical muscle tightness: 緊張する, 緊張感, 緊張が高まる, 筋肉の緊張.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a tight rope (緊) being stretched taut (張); when you feel tense, your body is like that taut rope ready to spring.

Variations

  • 緊張感 kinchoukan — sense of tension
  • 緊迫感 kinpaku-kan — sense of urgency or tense atmosphere
  • 不安 fuan — anxiety
  • リラックス rirakkusu — relaxation (antonym)
  • くつろぐ kutsurogu — to relax (antonym in usage)

Example Phrases

  • 学校の 文化祭 の 司会 を 任された 少し 緊張した。
    Gakkou no bunkasai no shikai o makasareta sukoshi kinchou shita.
    I was entrusted with hosting the school’s cultural festival, and I was a little nervous.
    Lista:
    • 学校の (gakkou no) – school’s
    • 文化祭 (bunkasai) – cultural festival
    • の (no) – of / possessive marker
    • 司会 (shikai) – MC
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 任された (makasareta) – was entrusted
    • 少し (sukoshi) – a little
    • 緊張した (kinchou shita) – was nervous
    Core grammar: 「司会」 is a noun meaning MC; here it is paired with を任された to express being entrusted to host.
  • 朝の会議で 精神 が 緊張 して 息を 整える ことで 落ち着いた。
    Asa no kaigi de seishin ga kinchō shite iki o totonoeru koto de ochitsuita.
    At the morning meeting, my mind was tense, and I calmed down by regulating my breathing.
    Lista:
    • 朝の会議で (asa no kaigi de) – at the morning meeting
    • 精神 (seishin) – mind; mental state
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 緊張 (kinchō) – tension; nervousness
    • して (shite) – doing
    • 息を (iki o) – breath
    • 整える (totonoeru) – to adjust; to regulate
    • ことで (koto de) – by doing
    • 落ち着いた (ochitsuita) – calmed down
    Here, 「精神」 means mind or mental state; it functions as the subject with が.
  • 明日の発表で 緊張 が 体全体に 伝わって きた
    Ashita no happyou de kinchou ga taizentai ni tsutawatte kita
    At tomorrow’s presentation, I felt tension spreading through my whole body.
    Lista:
    • 明日の発表で (ashita no happyou de) – at tomorrow’s presentation
    • 緊張 (kinchou) – tension
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 体全体に (taizentai ni) – through the entire body
    • 伝わって (tsutawatte) – spreading
    • きた (kita) – came
    The noun 「緊張」 is the subject marked by が; 伝わって きた shows the tension spreading through the body.
  • 今日は 面接で ベストを 尽くして 緊張を 乗り切った。
    Kyō wa mensetsu de besuto o tsukushite kinchō o norikitta.
    I did my best in the interview today and overcame my nervousness.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyō wa) – today
    • 面接で (mensetsu de) – at the interview
    • ベストを (besuto o) – the best
    • 尽くして (tsukushite) – doing one’s best
    • 緊張を (kinchō o) – nervousness
    • 乗り切った (norikitta) – overcame
    Uso de 「ベストを尽くす」: significa ‘fazer o seu melhor’; aqui 「ベストを尽くして」 conecta a ação seguinte.
緊張