Japanese Symbol for
心kokoro
heart · mind · spirit · soul
Readings
Meaning
Heart, mind, spirit, soul, feelings. 心 (kokoro) is one of the most profound words in Japanese — it encompasses the emotional heart, the thinking mind, and the moral spirit all at once. There is no single English equivalent.
Example words
心配
shinpai
worry, anxiety (heart-distribution)
安心
anshin
peace of mind, relief
本心
honshin
true feelings, one's real heart
心地
kokochi
feeling, sensation, comfort
思いやり
omoiyari
empathy, compassion, consideration
心技体
shin-gi-tai
mind, technique, body (martial arts ideal)
心 appears in Natsume Sōseki's novel Kokoro (1914) — considered one of the greatest Japanese novels. The title resists translation: it means heart, mind, spirit, and feelings simultaneously. Japanese psychologists distinguish 心 (kokoro — the inner emotional/spiritual self) from 脳 (nō — the brain), treating them as separate domains of human experience.
Hiragana and katakana are the keys to reading Japanese. Our free trainers get them locked in fast.