気分 vs 機嫌
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 気分
Listen to 機嫌
| 気分 | 機嫌 |
|---|---|
KI-bun noun | きげん noun |
| Mood; feeling; state of mind. | Mood; disposition; temperament |
How they differ
機嫌 usually refers to how pleasant or unpleasant someone is behaving, especially at the moment. 気分 can describe an inner feeling even if it does not show clearly in behavior, while 機嫌 often implies an outwardly visible mood.
When to use each
When to use 気分: Use 気分 when you are talking about your internal feeling or atmosphere, including vague or changing states.
When to use 機嫌: Use 機嫌 when you want to describe whether someone seems cheerful, irritated, or hard to deal with.
Side-by-side examples
- 今日は気分が乗らない。
(I’m not in the mood today.) - 彼女は朝から機嫌が悪い。
(She has been in a bad mood since this morning.)
Register & nuance: 機嫌 is very common in everyday speech and often used in interpersonal situations, especially about how someone is acting toward others.