案じる

• Reading: あんじる
• Romaji: anjiru
• Kanji breakdown: 案 (an) — plan, idea, consider
• Pronunciation: /aɴ.d͡ʑi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be anxious about; to be concerned about; to worry about. A somewhat formal way of expressing worry.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb that is more formal and literary than 心配する. Often used by older speakers or in written Japanese. The expression 案ずるより産むが易し (it's easier to give birth than to worry about it) is a well-known proverb using the classical form.

Examples

1. 母はいつも子供の将来を案じている。 My mother is always anxious about her children's future.
2. 安否を案じて連絡を取った。 I got in touch out of concern for their safety.
3. 案じていたほど結果は悪くなかった。 The result wasn't as bad as I had been worried about.

Usage Guide

Context: family, health, formal writing

Tone: concerned

Origin & History

From 案 (plan, idea, desk) combined with じる, a verb-forming suffix. Originally meant to ponder or think deeply about something, which naturally extended to worrying about outcomes.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal