心許ない

• Reading: こころもとない
• Romaji: kokoromotonai
• Kanji breakdown: 心 (shin/kokoro) — heart, mind; 許 (kyo/moto) — permit, origin (used phonetically here)
• Pronunciation: /ko.ko.ɾo.mo.to.na.i/

Meaning

Unreliable; uncertain; anxious; uneasy. Describes a nagging sense of insecurity about something or someone that seems insufficient or untrustworthy.

An i-adjective expressing quiet anxiety or a lack of confidence about a plan, person, or situation. Unlike 不安 (general anxiety), 心許ない carries a nuance of wishing something were more reliable while acknowledging it probably is not — a subtle, lingering unease rather than outright alarm.

Examples

1. 新入社員一人に任せるのは心許ない気がして、先輩が同行することにした。 Feeling uneasy about leaving it all to a single new hire, a senior colleague decided to go along.
2. 地図もなく見知らぬ街を歩くのは心許なく、何度も立ち止まって確認した。 Walking through an unfamiliar town without a map felt unsettling, and I kept stopping to check my surroundings.
3. 試験まで残り一週間しかなく、心許なさを感じながら勉強を続けた。 With only one week left until the exam, I kept studying while feeling a nagging sense of unease.

Usage Guide

Context: self-reflection, concern, literature, daily life

Tone: anxious

Origin & History

Compound of 心 (kokoro, heart/mind) and 許ない (motonai, insufficient/lacking). The heart feels there is not enough — it lacks solid footing or assurance. Rooted in classical Japanese literature.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: General