気持ち

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 気持ち is read as きもち and is a noun for a feeling, emotion, or state of mind arising from a situation or toward a person or thing.
• Basic usage: A happy feeling appears in うれしい気持ち, while nervous feelings appear in 緊張した気持ち.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Specified by modifiers
  • Because the word itself is broad, modifiers such as うれしい and 緊張した identify the particular feeling.
• Difference from 気分
  • 気分 readily describes an overall mood or physical feeling lasting for a period, while 気持ち also covers feelings about a specific situation or target.