Hello, I’m Kodak.
English speakers often use the single word “jealous” in several different situations.
“I’m jealous!”
Your partner is talking closely with someone else:
“I’m jealous.”
You lose an important match:
“I’m jealous of the winner—and frustrated that I lost.”
Your friend gets a special opportunity:
“No fair! I’m jealous!”
Japanese separates these feelings more clearly:
羨ましい — I wish I had that too
悔しい — I’m frustrated that I lost or failed
ずるい — No fair! You got an advantage
やきもち — jealousy over love, affection, or attention
The best Japanese word for “jealous” depends on the situation.
羨ましい (urayamashii)
Use this when someone has something good and you wish you had it too.
やきもちを焼く (yakimochi o yaku)
Use this for romantic or possessive jealousy over affection and attention.
ずるい (zurui)
Use this for “No fair!”—seriously or playfully.
悔しい (kuyashii)
Use this for painful frustration after losing, failing, or being unable to achieve what you wanted.
How Do You Say “Jealous” in Japanese?
There is no single perfect translation. Start by asking what kind of feeling you want to express.
⇒ 羨ましい
“I do not want to lose your love or attention.”
⇒ やきもちを焼く / 嫉妬する
“You get something good and I do not. No fair!”
⇒ ずるい
“I lost, failed, or could not do what I wanted.”
⇒ 悔しい
“I resent the other person for what they have.”
⇒ 妬む
羨ましい！
I’m jealous! / I wish I had that too!
やきもちを焼く
to get jealous in a relationship
Six Japanese Words Related to Jealousy and Envy
envious; “I wish I had that too”
2. やきもちを焼く (yakimochi o yaku)
to get jealous over love, affection, or attention
3. ずるい (zurui)
unfair; sneaky; playful “No fair!”
4. 悔しい (kuyashii)
painfully frustrated after losing or failing
5. 嫉妬する (shitto suru)
to feel jealousy; more direct, serious, or negative
6. 妬む (netamu)
to envy resentfully; begrudge someone’s success or happiness
1. 羨ましい: “I Wish I Had That Too”
Hiragana: うらやましい
Romaji: urayamashii
Meaning: envious; jealous in a friendly sense; wishing for the same good thing
羨ましい is the most useful expression when English says “I’m jealous!” as a positive reaction.
来月、日本に行くの？羨ましい！
Raigetsu, Nihon ni iku no? Urayamashii!
You’re going to Japan next month? I’m jealous!
日本語が上手で羨ましい。
Nihongo ga jōzu de urayamashii.
I’m jealous of how good you are at Japanese.
It often sounds admiring or complimentary: “That is wonderful. I wish I had it too.”
・travel
・talent or skills
・free time
・possessions
・an attractive lifestyle
・someone’s good relationship
・a special experience
Read the full guide: What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
2. やきもちを焼く: Romantic and Possessive Jealousy
Hiragana: やきもちをやく
Romaji: yakimochi o yaku
Meaning: to get jealous; feel jealous over affection or attention
やきもち is especially common when someone fears losing another person’s love, attention, praise, or closeness.
恋人がほかの人と楽しそうに話していて、やきもちを焼いた。
Koibito ga hoka no hito to tanoshisō ni hanashite ite, yakimochi o yaita.
I got jealous because my partner was happily talking with someone else.
犬が赤ちゃんにやきもちを焼いている。
Inu ga akachan ni yakimochi o yaite iru.
The dog is jealous of the baby.
・romantic jealousy
・a child jealous of a sibling
・a pet jealous of another pet or baby
・jealousy over praise or attention
・a close friend feeling excluded
Read the full guide: What Does やきもち (Yakimochi) Mean?
3. ずるい: “No Fair—you’re So Lucky!”
Kanji: 狡い
Romaji: zurui
Basic meaning: unfair, sneaky, dishonest
Playful meaning: No fair! Lucky you!
ずるい is not literally the same as jealousy. However, friends often use it when someone receives a desirable opportunity.
一週間も休みがあるの？ずるい！
Isshūkan mo yasumi ga aru no? Zurui!
You have a whole week off? No fair!
推しに会えたの？ずるい！羨ましい！
Oshi ni aeta no? Zurui! Urayamashii!
You met your favorite celebrity? No fair! I’m jealous!
The speaker jokingly treats the other person’s good fortune as an “unfair advantage.”
Read the full guide: What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
4. 悔しい: Frustration After Losing or Failing
Hiragana: くやしい
Romaji: kuyashii
Meaning: painfully frustrated; bitterly disappointed; unable to accept a loss or failure
悔しい is not a direct translation of “jealous,” but it often appears in the same emotional situation.
優勝した彼が羨ましい。
Yūshō shita kare ga urayamashii.
I envy him for winning the championship.
自分が優勝できなくて悔しい。
Jibun ga yūshō dekinakute kuyashii.
I’m frustrated that I couldn’t win the championship.
羨ましい points toward what the winner has.
悔しい points toward your own unwanted result.
Read the full guide: What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
5. 嫉妬する: Direct and Serious Jealousy
Hiragana: しっとする
Romaji: shitto suru
Meaning: to feel jealousy; envy resentfully; feel possessive jealousy
嫉妬 is a direct noun for jealousy. It often sounds more serious, analytical, negative, or formal than conversational やきもち.
彼は同僚の成功に嫉妬している。
Kare wa dōryō no seikō ni shitto shite iru.
He is jealous of his coworker’s success.
恋人がほかの人と親しくするのを見て嫉妬した。
Koibito ga hoka no hito to shitashiku suru no o mite shitto shita.
I felt jealous when I saw my partner getting close to someone else.
For a vacation, 羨ましい！ is much more natural.
6. 妬む: Resentful Envy
Hiragana: ねたむ
Romaji: netamu
Meaning: to envy resentfully; begrudge someone’s success, talent, happiness, or attention
妬む is more negative than a light 羨ましい. It suggests resentment toward the other person.
彼女の成功を妬んでいる。
Kanojo no seikō o netande iru.
He/She resents her success.
人の幸せを妬んではいけない。
Hito no shiawase o netande wa ikenai.
You should not resent other people’s happiness.
A simple wish can become resentment if you begin disliking the person because of what they have. But the words are not interchangeable.
Japanese Jealousy Words: Quick Comparison
“I wish I had that too.”
Usually light, admiring, or neutral.
やきもち
“I want that love or attention for myself.”
Common in romance, family, friendship, and pets.
ずるい
“No fair—you got something good!”
Can be playful or genuinely critical.
悔しい
“I hate that I lost or failed.”
Focuses on your own unwanted result.
嫉妬する
“I feel jealousy.”
Direct, serious, and often more negative.
妬む
“I resent you for what you have.”
Clearly negative.
One Situation, Six Different Feelings
Imagine that your coworker receives a promotion.
I wish I had that opportunity too.
⇒ Admiration and envy.
ずるい。
No fair! / The process was unfair.
⇒ Playful reaction or criticism, depending on context.
悔しい。
I’m frustrated that I was not promoted.
⇒ Pain about your own result.
嫉妬している。
I feel jealous of the promotion and attention.
⇒ More direct and serious.
妬んでいる。
I resent the coworker’s success.
⇒ Negative feeling toward the coworker.
やきもちを焼いている。
I feel jealous because the boss now gives that coworker special attention.
⇒ Focus on affection, attention, or closeness.
How to Say “I’m Jealous!” in Japanese
Friendly Envy
羨ましい！
Urayamashii!
I’m jealous!
いいなあ、羨ましい！
Ii nā, urayamashii!
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
Playful “No Fair!”
ずるい！私も行きたい！
Zurui! Watashi mo ikitai!
No fair! I want to go too!
Romantic Jealousy
ちょっとやきもちを焼いた。
Chotto yakimochi o yaita.
I got a little jealous.
ほかの人と仲よくしているのを見て、嫉妬した。
Hoka no hito to nakayoku shite iru no o mite, shitto shita.
I felt jealous when I saw you being friendly with someone else.
Frustration Mixed with Envy
羨ましいし、正直ちょっと悔しい。
Urayamashii shi, shōjiki chotto kuyashii.
I’m jealous, and honestly, I’m a little frustrated too.
How to Say “Are You Jealous?” in Japanese
Do you wish you had it too?
やきもち焼いてるの？
Are you jealous?
Common in romantic or playful contexts.
嫉妬してるの？
Are you jealous?
More direct and potentially confrontational.
もしかして、やきもち？
Are you jealous, by any chance?
Light and teasing.
If the person is genuinely upset, teasing them may make the situation worse.
How to Say “Don’t Be Jealous” in Japanese
やきもちを焼かないで。
Yakimochi o yakanaide.
Don’t be jealous.
嫉妬しないで。
Shitto shinaide.
Don’t be jealous.
心配しなくていいよ。
Shinpai shinakute ii yo.
You don’t need to worry.
Sometimes reassurance is better:
ただの友達だよ。心配しないで。
We’re just friends. Don’t worry.
Jealousy in Japanese: Positive to Negative Scale
Lucky you / That’s nice
↓
羨ましい
I wish I had that too
↓
ずるい
No fair / You got an advantage
↓
やきもち
jealous over attention or affection
↓
嫉妬
direct jealousy, often serious
↓
妬む
resentful envy
This is only a rough emotional scale. Tone and context can make any expression lighter or stronger.
羨ましい vs やきもち: Envy or Jealousy?
Another person has something desirable.
You wish you had it too.
やきもち
Another person is receiving attention, love, praise, or closeness.
You want that connection for yourself.
I envy my friend for having a kind partner.
恋人が友達と親しくしていて、やきもちを焼いた。
I got jealous because my partner was getting close to a friend.
羨ましい vs ずるい: “I Want That” or “No Fair”?
Focus: the good thing you want.
ずるい
Focus: the imbalance between the other person’s advantage and your situation.
海外旅行に行くの？羨ましい！
You’re traveling abroad? I’m jealous!
海外旅行に行くの？ずるい！
You’re traveling abroad? No fair!
羨ましい vs 悔しい: Envy or Frustration?
The other person has what you want.
悔しい
You did not get the result you wanted.
合格した友達が羨ましい。
I envy my friend who passed.
自分が不合格で悔しい。
I’m frustrated that I failed.
やきもち vs 嫉妬: Casual or Serious Jealousy?
Everyday, emotional, familiar, and sometimes cute or playful.
嫉妬
Direct noun for jealousy; more formal, analytical, serious, or negative.
How Jealousy Words Are Used in Anime and Manga
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
二人だけで行ったの？ずるい！
You two went without me? No fair!
別にやきもちなんか焼いてないし。
It’s not like I’m jealous or anything.
⇒ Often suggests the speaker really is jealous.
嫉妬してるのか？
Are you jealous?
負けたのが悔しい。
I’m frustrated that I lost.
あいつの才能が羨ましい。
I envy that person’s talent.
It often creates the anime-style implication: “I’m definitely not jealous… probably.”
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using 嫉妬する for Every Friendly “I’m Jealous!”
日本に行くの？嫉妬している。
Natural:
日本に行くの？羨ましい！
You’re going to Japan? I’m jealous!
Mistake 2: Using 羨ましい for Romantic Possessiveness
恋人がほかの人と話していて、やきもちを焼いた。
Envy:
友達に恋人がいて羨ましい。
Mistake 3: Assuming ずるい Always Means Cheating
Among friends, ずるい！ can simply mean “No fair—you’re lucky!”
Mistake 4: Translating 悔しい as Jealous
悔しい focuses on your failure or loss, not directly on what another person has.
Mistake 5: Treating 妬む as a Light Compliment
妬む carries resentment. Use 羨ましい when you want a friendly or complimentary reaction.
Natural Example Sentences
来月ヨーロッパに行くの？羨ましい！
Raigetsu Yōroppa ni iku no? Urayamashii!
You’re going to Europe next month? I’m jealous!
彼のコミュニケーション能力が羨ましい。
Kare no komyunikēshon nōryoku ga urayamashii.
I envy his communication skills.
恋人が元恋人の話をするので、少しやきもちを焼いた。
Koibito ga moto-koibito no hanashi o suru node, sukoshi yakimochi o yaita.
I got a little jealous because my partner talked about their ex.
妹は赤ちゃんばかり褒められて、やきもちを焼いた。
Imōto wa akachan bakari homerarete, yakimochi o yaita.
My younger sister became jealous because only the baby was praised.
一人だけ特別なプレゼントをもらったの？ずるい！
Hitori dake tokubetsu na purezento o moratta no? Zurui!
You were the only one who got a special present? No fair!
友達が合格して羨ましいけれど、自分が落ちて悔しい。
Tomodachi ga gōkaku shite urayamashii keredo, jibun ga ochite kuyashii.
I envy my friend for passing, but I’m frustrated that I failed.
彼は同僚の成功に嫉妬している。
Kare wa dōryō no seikō ni shitto shite iru.
He is jealous of his coworker’s success.
人の才能を妬むより、自分も努力したほうがいい。
Hito no sainō o netamu yori, jibun mo doryoku shita hō ga ii.
Instead of resenting someone else’s talent, you should work hard too.
そんなにやきもちを焼かないで。彼はただの友達だよ。
Sonna ni yakimochi o yakanaide. Kare wa tada no tomodachi da yo.
Don’t be so jealous. He is just a friend.
正直、羨ましいし、少し悔しい。
Shōjiki, urayamashii shi, sukoshi kuyashii.
Honestly, I’m jealous and a little frustrated.
犬が飼い主のひざに乗った猫にやきもちを焼いている。
Inu ga kainushi no hiza ni notta neko ni yakimochi o yaite iru.
The dog is jealous of the cat sitting on its owner’s lap.
彼女の成功を羨ましいとは思うが、妬んではいない。
Kanojo no seikō o urayamashii to wa omou ga, netande wa inai.
I envy her success, but I do not resent her.
FAQ About Saying “Jealous” in Japanese
What is the most common Japanese word for jealous?
For friendly envy, use 羨ましい. For romantic or possessive jealousy, use やきもちを焼く. The direct noun for jealousy is 嫉妬.
How do you say “I’m jealous!” in Japanese?
Say 羨ましい！ when someone has something good that you want too. Say ちょっとやきもちを焼いた when you felt jealous over affection or attention.
What is the difference between envy and jealousy in Japanese?
羨ましい usually expresses envy of something desirable. やきもち and 嫉妬 often describe jealousy over love, attention, relationships, or rivalry.
What is the difference between urayamashii and yakimochi?
羨ましい means “I wish I had what you have.” やきもち means feeling jealous because someone else receives the affection or attention you want.
Is zurui a word for jealousy?
Not directly. ずるい means unfair or sneaky, but friends may use it playfully as “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
Why is kuyashii included in Japanese jealousy vocabulary?
悔しい expresses frustration after losing or failing. A person may feel 羨ましい toward the winner and 悔しい about their own result.
Is shitto stronger than yakimochi?
Often, yes. 嫉妬 sounds more direct, serious, analytical, or negative. やきもち is more familiar and can sound lighter or more affectionate.
What does netamu mean?
妬む means to envy resentfully or begrudge someone’s success, happiness, ability, or attention.
How do you say “Are you jealous?” in Japanese?
やきもち焼いてるの？ is natural for romantic or playful jealousy. 嫉妬してるの？ is more direct.
How do you say “Don’t be jealous” in Japanese?
You can say やきもちを焼かないで or 嫉妬しないで. Reassuring the person may be more helpful than simply telling them not to feel jealous.
Related Articles
Friendly envy and the feeling “I wish I had that too.”
What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
Painful frustration after losing, failing, or being unable to achieve what you wanted.
What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
“Unfair,” “sneaky,” and the playful “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
What Does やきもち (Yakimochi) Mean?
Everyday jealousy over love, affection, praise, or attention.
Summary: Japanese Words for Jealousy
Someone has something good, and you wish you had it too.
● やきもちを焼く
You feel jealous over love, attention, praise, or closeness.
● ずるい
Something feels unfair—or you playfully say “No fair!”
● 悔しい
You feel painful frustration because you lost, failed, or did not get the result you wanted.
● 嫉妬する
A direct and often serious expression for feeling jealousy.
● 妬む
You resent another person for what they have.
● Easiest beginner choices
Friendly “I’m jealous!” ⇒ 羨ましい！
Romantic jealousy ⇒ やきもちを焼く
Playful “No fair!” ⇒ ずるい！
Frustrated after losing ⇒ 悔しい！
First identify the core feeling:
envy, possessiveness, unfairness, frustration, or resentment.
Once you know that, the Japanese word becomes much easier to choose.