違和感

• Reading: いわかん
• Romaji: iwakan
• Kanji breakdown: 違 (i) — different, wrong; 和 (wa) — harmony, peace; 感 (kan) — feeling, sense
• Pronunciation: /i.wa.kaɴ/

Meaning

A sense of discomfort; feeling out of place. An uneasy feeling that something is not quite right.

A compound noun combining 違和 (disharmony) with 感 (feeling). Widely used in both physical contexts (e.g. bodily discomfort like 違和感を覚える in the throat) and psychological contexts (e.g. sensing something is off about a situation). A very useful N2-level word for expressing subtle unease.

Examples

1. この部屋に入った瞬間、違和感を覚えた。 The moment I walked into that room, something felt off.
2. 彼の話にはどこか違和感があるが、うまく説明できない。 There's something about his story that doesn't sit right with me, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
3. 新しい職場に違和感なく馴染めた。 I was able to fit into the new workplace without feeling out of place.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, medical, interpersonal

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 違 (i, different/wrong) + 和 (wa, harmony) + 感 (kan, feeling). Literally 'a feeling of disharmony' — sensing that something does not fit.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal