心理

• Reading: しんり
• Romaji: shinri
• Kanji breakdown: 心 (shin/kokoro) — heart, mind; 理 (ri) — reason, principle
• Pronunciation: /ɕin.ɾi/

Meaning

Psychology; state of mind; mentality. The inner workings of a person's thoughts and emotions.

A noun used in both academic and everyday contexts. Appears in compounds like 心理学 (psychology as a discipline), 心理的 (psychological), and 心理テスト (psychological test). While 精神 refers to the spirit or will, 心理 focuses specifically on the mechanisms of thought and emotion.

Examples

1. 大学で心理学を専攻している。 I'm majoring in psychology at university.
2. 犯人の心理を理解するのは難しい。 It's hard to understand the psychology of the criminal.
3. 心理的なプレッシャーに負けないように頑張った。 I pushed through so I wouldn't give in to the psychological pressure.

Usage Guide

Context: education, health, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 心 (shin, heart/mind) and 理 (ri, reason/principle). Literally 'the principles of the heart,' describing the systematic understanding of mental processes.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal