不安

• Reading: ふあん
• Romaji: fuan
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not, un-; 安 (an) — peace, ease, safety
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.aɴ/

Meaning

Anxiety; uneasiness; worry. A feeling of insecurity or apprehension about something uncertain.

A na-adjective and noun. As an adjective: 不安な気持ち (uneasy feeling). As a noun: 不安を感じる (to feel anxiety), 不安がある (to have worries). The prefix 不 negates 安 (peace/ease), literally 'not at ease.' Very common in everyday conversation and one of the most frequently used emotion words in Japanese.

Examples

1. 初めての海外旅行で少し不安だった。 I was a little anxious about my first trip overseas.
2. 将来のことを考えると不安になる。 Thinking about the future makes me uneasy.
3. 試験の結果が出るまで不安な日が続いた。 I had anxious days until the exam results came out.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, daily life, health

Tone: concerned

Origin & History

Compound of the prefix 不 (fu, not/un-) and 安 (an, peace/ease/safety). Literally 'not peaceful' — a state of being without ease or calm.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal