Hello, I’m Kodak.
Imagine that your friend tells you:
来月、北海道に旅行するんだ。
Raigetsu, Hokkaidō ni ryokō suru n da.
I’m traveling to Hokkaido next month.
You want to say, “I’m jealous!”—but in a friendly, positive way.
In this situation, the natural response is:
いいなあ、羨ましい！
Ii nā, urayamashii!
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
羨ましい (urayamashii) means “envious,” “I wish I had that too,” or, in friendly conversational English, “I’m jealous!”
It is often used as a positive or neutral reaction to another person’s ability, experience, possessions, relationship, or good situation.
This article explains the meaning, pronunciation, kanji, grammar, natural usage, emotional nuance, anime-style examples, and differences between 羨ましい, いいな, 嫉妬する, and 妬む.
What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
Hiragana: うらやましい
Romaji: urayamashii
Part of speech: い-adjective
Main meaning: envious; jealous; wishing that you also had someone’s ability, situation, or good fortune
The core feeling of 羨ましい is:
↓
“I wish I had it too.”
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.
休みが一か月もあるなんて羨ましい！
Yasumi ga ikkagetsu mo aru nante urayamashii!
I’m so jealous that you have a whole month off!
However, everyday English often uses “I’m jealous!” in exactly the same friendly way, so both translations can be natural.
The Core Image of 羨ましい
羨ましい does not necessarily mean that you dislike the other person or want to take something away from them.
Very often, it simply expresses admiration mixed with a wish.
Someone has a good ability, experience, relationship, possession, or opportunity
↓
You admire it
↓
You think, “I wish I had that too.”
But unlike 妬む or 嫉妬する, it often sounds light, honest, and even complimentary—especially with a warm tone.
海外で働いているなんて羨ましい！
I’m jealous that you work abroad!
More emotionally painful:
幸せそうな家族を見ると羨ましくなる。
When I see a happy-looking family, I feel envious.
How to Pronounce 羨ましい
Hiragana: うらやましい
Romaji: urayamashii
Mora: う・ら・や・ま・し・い (6 morae)
Pronounce every part clearly:
The final しい (shii) is longer than a short し (shi). Do not shorten urayamashii to something like “urayamashi.”
The second vowel matters because 羨ましい is an い-adjective.
How to Write Urayamashii in Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Hiragana: うらやましい
Katakana: ウラヤマシイ
Romaji: urayamashii
羨ましい is the standard adult spelling. The kanji 羨 carries the meaning “to envy” or “to admire what another person has.”
Writing the whole word in hiragana—うらやましい—is also completely correct and may feel softer or easier to read.
Katakana—ウラヤマシイ—is usually reserved for visual emphasis, manga dialogue, advertisements, or a deliberately stylized tone.
Recognizing 羨ましい is useful, but clear communication is more important than forcing yourself to write a difficult kanji too early.
A Kanji Memory Image for 羨
The traditional character analysis connects 羨 with the image of seeing desirable food and salivating over it.
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It makes your mouth water
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You wish it were yours
↓
羨 = to envy / desire what another has
This explains the image behind the kanji. It is not a literal explanation of how the modern Japanese pronunciation urayamashii developed.
Origin and Etymology of 羨ましい
The adjective 羨ましい was formed from the verb 羨む (urayamu), meaning “to envy” or “to wish that one had what another person has.”
to envy someone; to wish for what someone else has
↓
羨ましい (urayamashii)
envious; desirable enough to make the speaker wish for the same thing
The verb 羨む appears in very old Japanese literature, including the preface to the Kokin Wakashū, compiled in the early tenth century. This shows that the underlying word has a long history in Japanese.
羨む presents the act of envying someone, while 羨ましい directly describes the speaker’s feeling: “I wish I had that too.”
How to Use 羨ましい
1. Noun + が + 羨ましい
Use が to mark the person, thing, ability, or situation that you envy.
あなたの才能が羨ましい。
Anata no sainō ga urayamashii.
I envy your talent.
彼の自由な生活が羨ましい。
Kare no jiyū na seikatsu ga urayamashii.
I’m envious of his free lifestyle.
The thing that inspires the feeling is commonly marked with が.
2. Person + が + Action/State + のが羨ましい
Use の to turn a clause into “the fact that…” or “the act of…”
毎日好きな仕事ができるのが羨ましい。
Mainichi sukina shigoto ga dekiru no ga urayamashii.
I’m jealous that you can do work you love every day.
彼女がいつも前向きなのが羨ましい。
Kanojo ga itsumo maemuki na no ga urayamashii.
I envy how she is always positive.
3. ～なんて羨ましい
～なんて羨ましい expresses surprise or admiration: “How lucky that…” or “I’m so jealous that…”
日本に一年間留学できるなんて羨ましい！
Nihon ni ichinenkan ryūgaku dekiru nante urayamashii!
I’m so jealous that you get to study in Japan for a year!
毎週コンサートに行けるなんて羨ましいな。
Maishū konsāto ni ikeru nante urayamashii na.
You’re so lucky to be able to go to a concert every week.
4. 羨ましくなる: To Start Feeling Envious
友達の旅行の写真を見ると羨ましくなる。
Tomodachi no ryokō no shashin o miru to urayamashiku naru.
When I see my friend’s travel photos, I start feeling jealous.
5. 羨ましくて～: “I’m So Envious That…”
彼の才能が羨ましくて、もっと練習しようと思った。
Kare no sainō ga urayamashikute, motto renshū shiyō to omotta.
I admired his talent so much that I decided to practice more.
羨ましい Is an I-Adjective
am/is envious
Present negative: 羨ましくない
am/is not envious
Past affirmative: 羨ましかった
was envious
Past negative: 羨ましくなかった
was not envious
Te-form: 羨ましくて
being envious; because I was envious
Adverbial form: 羨ましく
enviously / in an envious way
最初は羨ましくなかった。
Saisho wa urayamashiku nakatta.
I wasn’t envious at first.
昔は都会の生活が羨ましかった。
Mukashi wa tokai no seikatsu ga urayamashikatta.
I used to envy life in the city.
In friendly conversation, 羨ましい！ or 羨ましいなあ sounds natural.
How to Say “I’m Jealous!” Naturally
Friendly and Enthusiastic
羨ましい！
Urayamashii!
I’m jealous!
いいなあ、羨ましい！
Ii nā, urayamashii!
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
Polite
羨ましいです。
Urayamashii desu.
I’m envious.
とても羨ましいです。
Totemo urayamashii desu.
I’m very envious.
Playful and Casual
ずるい！羨ましい！
Zurui! Urayamashii!
No fair! I’m jealous!
The tone and relationship are very important.
羨ましい vs いいな: What Is the Difference?
“I wish I had what you have.”
The speaker directly names the feeling of envy.
いいな
“That’s nice,” “Lucky you,” or “I wish I could do that.”
Softer, more indirect, and extremely common in conversation.
A: 来週、沖縄に行くんだ。
I’m going to Okinawa next week.B: いいなあ！
Lucky you!
A: 来週、沖縄に行くんだ。
I’m going to Okinawa next week.B: 羨ましい！
I’m jealous!
Use いいなあ for a light, effortless reaction.
Use 羨ましい when you clearly want to say, “I wish I had that too.”
羨ましい vs 嫉妬する: Envy and Jealousy Are Not the Same
This distinction is especially important for English-speaking learners.
Someone has something desirable, and you wish you had it too.
Often positive, neutral, admiring, or light.
嫉妬する (shitto suru)
To feel jealousy or resentment because of another person’s success, attention, ability, or relationship.
Usually more negative, serious, or possessive.
I’m jealous because my friend is traveling abroad.
⇒ I wish I could go too.
恋人がほかの人と話しているのを見て嫉妬した。
I felt jealous when I saw my partner talking to someone else.
⇒ Fear, possessiveness, or romantic jealousy.
羨ましい would suggest that the other person has something you wish you had.
羨ましい vs 妬む: Which Sounds More Negative?
“I wish I had that too.”
Often open, light, and potentially complimentary.
妬む (netamu)
To resent or begrudge someone because they have success, ability, attention, or happiness.
More clearly negative.
彼女の歌の才能が羨ましい。
Kanojo no uta no sainō ga urayamashii.
I envy her singing talent.
彼女の成功を妬んでいる。
Kanojo no seikō o netande iru.
He/She resents her success.
But the words themselves are not interchangeable: 妬む carries a more negative judgment.
羨ましい vs 羨む
to feel envious; to find someone’s situation desirable
羨む — verb
to envy someone; to regard what someone has with envy
私は彼の生活が羨ましい。
Watashi wa kare no seikatsu ga urayamashii.
I envy his lifestyle.
人の成功を羨んでばかりではいけない。
Hito no seikō o urayande bakari de wa ikenai.
You shouldn’t do nothing but envy other people’s success.
羨む often sounds more literary, reflective, or negative than the conversational exclamation 羨ましい！
Can You Use 羨ましい About Another Person’s Feelings?
Japanese emotion adjectives often express the speaker’s own directly experienced feelings.
When describing another person, Japanese commonly uses ～そう or ～がる.
looks envious
羨ましがる
to show signs of envy; to act envious
彼は羨ましそうに写真を見ていた。
Kare wa urayamashisō ni shashin o mite ita.
He was looking at the photos enviously.
弟は私の新しいゲームを羨ましがっている。
Otōto wa watashi no atarashii gēmu o urayamashigatte iru.
My younger brother is jealous of my new game.
It may mean “I envy him”, not “he feels envious.”
To clearly describe his emotion, say 彼は羨ましそうだ, 彼は羨ましがっている, or quote his words.
When Does 羨ましい Sound Like a Compliment?
羨ましい often compliments something admirable about the listener.
I’m jealous of your beautiful pronunciation.
いつも前向きで羨ましいです。
I admire how you are always positive.
家族と仲がよくて羨ましい。
I’m jealous of how close you are with your family.
A warm tone helps, but you should still consider how well you know the person.
Natural Situations for 羨ましい
語学が得意で羨ましい。
I envy your talent for languages.
Travel and experiences
京都に住んでいるなんて羨ましい。
I’m jealous that you live in Kyoto.
Free time
週休三日なんて羨ましい。
A three-day weekend every week? I’m jealous.
Possessions
新しいカメラ、羨ましい！
I’m jealous of your new camera!
Relationships
二人は本当に仲がよくて羨ましい。
I envy how close the two of you are.
Personality
いつも自信があって羨ましい。
I envy how confident you always are.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using 嫉妬する for Every Friendly “I’m Jealous!”
北海道に行くの？嫉妬している。
Natural:
北海道に行くの？羨ましい！
You’re going to Hokkaido? 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。
I got jealous when my partner was talking to someone else.
Envy:
友達に優しい恋人がいて羨ましい。
I’m envious that my friend has a kind partner.
Mistake 3: Saying 羨ましい About the Wrong Person
Remember that the person or thing marked by が is what the speaker finds enviable.
I envy him.
彼は私を羨ましがっている。
He is envious of me.
Mistake 4: Assuming 羨ましい Is Always Kind
The word can sound warm, bitter, sad, sarcastic, or accusatory depending on tone.
夢をかなえたんだね。羨ましい！
You achieved your dream. I’m jealous!
Bitter:
何でもうまくいく人は羨ましいよ。
Must be nice to be someone for whom everything works out.
How 羨ましい Is Used in Anime and Manga
Anime and manga often shorten sentences because the situation is visually obvious.
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
お前、そんな能力があるのか。羨ましいな。
You have an ability like that? I’m jealous.
二人だけで出かけたの？ずるい！
You two went out by yourselves? No fair!
別に羨ましくないし。
It’s not like I’m jealous or anything.
羨ましいんでしょ？
You’re jealous, aren’t you?
別に羨ましくないし。 often suggests that the character actually is jealous but does not want to admit it.
Natural Example Sentences with 羨ましい
毎日海を見ながら仕事ができるなんて羨ましい。
Mainichi umi o minagara shigoto ga dekiru nante urayamashii.
I’m jealous that you can work while looking at the ocean every day.
彼女は絵が上手で羨ましい。
Kanojo wa e ga jōzu de urayamashii.
I envy how good she is at drawing.
夏休みが二か月もあるの？羨ましい！
Natsuyasumi ga nikagetsu mo aru no? Urayamashii!
You have two months of summer vacation? I’m jealous!
私は兄の行動力が羨ましい。
Watashi wa ani no kōdōryoku ga urayamashii.
I envy my older brother’s ability to take action.
友達が夢をかなえたのを見て、少し羨ましくなった。
Tomodachi ga yume o kanaeta no o mite, sukoshi urayamashiku natta.
Seeing my friend achieve their dream made me feel a little envious.
うちの犬は、猫だけおやつをもらって羨ましそうだった。
Uchi no inu wa, neko dake oyatsu o moratte urayamashisō datta.
Our dog looked jealous because only the cat got a treat.
妹は私の新しい服を羨ましがっている。
Imōto wa watashi no atarashii fuku o urayamashigatte iru.
My younger sister is jealous of my new clothes.
羨ましいと思うだけでなく、自分も努力しよう。
Urayamashii to omou dake de naku, jibun mo doryoku shiyō.
Instead of only feeling envious, I’ll work hard too.
彼らのような信頼関係が羨ましい。
Karera no yō na shinrai kankei ga urayamashii.
I envy the kind of trusting relationship they have.
正直に言うと、あなたの成功が羨ましかった。
Shōjiki ni iu to, anata no seikō ga urayamashikatta.
To be honest, I was envious of your success.
FAQ About 羨ましい
What does urayamashii mean in English?
羨ましい means “envious,” “I wish I had that too,” or, in friendly everyday English, “I’m jealous!”
Is urayamashii positive or negative?
It can be either, but it is often light, positive, or complimentary. Tone and context determine whether it expresses friendly admiration, sadness, bitterness, or serious envy.
What is the difference between urayamashii and jealous?
羨ましい usually describes envy of something desirable. English “jealous” can also describe fear of losing a romantic partner, but Japanese normally uses 嫉妬する or やきもちを焼く for that meaning.
How do you write urayamashii in Japanese?
The standard kanji spelling is 羨ましい. It can also be written entirely in hiragana as うらやましい.
Is urayamashii an adjective?
Yes. 羨ましい is an い-adjective. Its past form is 羨ましかった, and its negative form is 羨ましくない.
How do you say “I’m jealous!” naturally in Japanese?
Say 羨ましい！ or いいなあ、羨ましい！ for a friendly reaction to someone’s good news.
What is the difference between 羨ましい and いいな?
いいな is a lighter “That’s nice” or “Lucky you.” 羨ましい more directly expresses “I wish I had that too.”
What is the difference between 羨ましい and 嫉妬する?
羨ましい often expresses admiration or envy of something desirable. 嫉妬する is usually more negative or possessive and is common for romantic jealousy.
How do you say that another person looks jealous?
Use 羨ましそう for “looks envious” or 羨ましがっている for “is showing envy.”
Is 羨ましい rude?
The word itself is not rude. However, comments about sensitive topics such as money, appearance, family, marriage, or children may make someone uncomfortable.
Related Expressions
A complete guide to 羨ましい, 悔しい, ずるい, やきもち, 嫉妬, and related feelings.
What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
The painful frustration of losing, failing, or being unable to do what you wanted.
What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
“Unfair,” “sneaky,” or a playful “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
What Does やきもち (Yakimochi) Mean?
Jealousy in relationships and the connection with 焼き餅.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of 羨ましい
羨ましい means “envious,” “I wish I had that too,” or a friendly “I’m jealous!”
● Core image
Someone has something good, and you wish you could have or experience it too.
● Tone
Often positive, light, admiring, and complimentary—but it can also express sadness or bitterness.
● Writing
Kanji: 羨ましい
Hiragana: うらやましい
Romaji: urayamashii
● Grammar
羨ましい is an い-adjective.
Past: 羨ましかった
Negative: 羨ましくない
● Important distinction
羨ましい = envy of something desirable
嫉妬する / やきもちを焼く = jealousy, especially romantic or possessive jealousy
● Easy beginner phrase
いいなあ、羨ましい！
Lucky you! I’m jealous!
いいなあ、羨ましい！
It expresses admiration and “I wish I could do that too” without the heavy negativity of serious jealousy.
References
- Kotobank: 羨ましい — definition and derivation from 羨む.
- Kotobank: 羨む — meaning and early literary example.
- Kanjipedia: 羨 — character meaning and traditional character formation.
- The Japan Foundation, Irodori — use of ～がる with another person’s feelings.