メンタル強い
Meaning: Mentally strong or resilient — able to handle pressure, criticism, and setbacks without breaking down.
メンタル強い describes someone with impressive psychological resilience. It is used admiringly for people who stay calm under pressure, brush off online criticism, or bounce back from failures. In Japanese culture where harmony and sensitivity to others' feelings are valued, being メンタル強い carries a nuance of admiration — it is a quality many wish they had. Athletes, entertainers, and people in high-stress jobs are often praised as メンタル強い.
Examples
- 炎上してもSNSやめないの、メンタル強いなぁ。 被炎上了还不退出社交媒体,心理素质真强啊。Que siga en redes a pesar de las polémicas… es que es mentalmente fortísimo.악플 세례를 받아도 SNS를 안 그만두다니, 멘탈 강하다.
- あの人は何言われてもメンタル強いから大丈夫でしょ。 那个人不管别人说什么心态都很强,肯定没问题的。A esa persona le digan lo que le digan, es tan fuerte mentalmente que estará bien.저 사람은 뭘 말해도 멘탈이 강하니까 괜찮을 거야.
- メンタル強い人ってどうやって鍛えてるんだろう。 心理素质强的人到底是怎么锻炼出来的呢。Me pregunto cómo se entrenan las personas mentalmente fuertes.멘탈 강한 사람들은 어떻게 단련하는 걸까.
Pronunciation
/me.ɴ.ta.ɾu.tsu.jo.i/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, social media, daily conversation
Tone: admiring, envious
✓ Do Say
- プレッシャーに負けないの、メンタル強いよね。 (You don't crack under pressure — you're mentally tough.)在压力面前不退缩,心理素质真强。(You don't crack under pressure — you're mentally tough.)Que no te desmorones bajo presión… eres mentalmente muy fuerte.압박에 안 지다니, 멘탈 강하다.
- メンタル強い人に憧れるわ。 (I admire people who are mentally strong.)很羡慕心理素质强的人。(I admire people who are mentally strong.)Admiro a la gente que es mentalmente fuerte.멘탈 강한 사람이 부러워.
✗ Don't Say
- 辛い人に「メンタル強くなりなよ」は禁句 (Telling someone who is struggling 'just be mentally stronger' is unhelpful and dismissive)对正在痛苦中的人说'你心态强一点不就好了'是禁忌——这既无用又显得冷漠Decirle a alguien que lo está pasando mal «sé más fuerte mentalmente» es inútil y despectivo.힘들어하는 사람에게 「멘탈 좀 강해져」는 금기야 — 도움이 안 되고 무시하는 말이다
Common Mistakes
- Assuming メンタル強い means the person never feels stress — it describes resilience and recovery, not the absence of negative emotions
Origin & History
Combination of メンタル (from English 'mental') + 強い (strong). Became a common praise phrase as mental health vocabulary entered casual conversation in the 2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s with normalization of mental health vocabulary
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Often appears in discussions about athletes, celebrities, and anyone who handles public scrutiny well.
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