Translation guide
To have a strong, persistent desire for something, often something unattainable or from the past. In Japanese, this is expressed through various verbs and phrases that convey longing, yearning, or craving.
Expressing a deep, often melancholic desire for something that is hard to get, such as a lost love, a past life, or an ideal.
To yearn for, admire, or long for something/someone, often with a sense of idealization. Commonly used for dreams, admired people, or lifestyles.
彼女は都会の生活に憧れている。
She hankers after city life.
昔のシンプルな暮らしに憧れる。
I hanker after the simple life of the past.
To earnestly desire or long for something. More intense and formal than 憧れる, often used in written language.
彼は自由を切望していた。
He hankered after freedom.
To yearn passionately, especially for a person or a place. Has a poetic, intense nuance.
故郷を恋い焦がれる。
I hanker after my hometown.
Expressing a strong want for a particular thing, often a food, object, or experience.
Literally 'want so much I can't stand it'. A very common, natural way to express strong desire for something concrete.
新しいスマホが欲しくてたまらない。
I'm hankering after a new smartphone.
彼は成功が欲しくてたまらなかった。
He was hankering after success.
To thirst for, crave. Stronger and more literary than 欲しくてたまらない. Often used for abstract things like power or knowledge.
知識を渇望する。
I hanker after knowledge.
Pattern: Verb stem + たくて仕方がない. Expresses an uncontrollable desire to do something. Similar to 'dying to do'.
海外旅行に行きたくて仕方がない。
I'm hankering to travel abroad.
Expressing a sentimental desire to return to a previous time or condition.
To feel nostalgic for, to miss fondly. Often used for past experiences, places, or eras.
学生時代を懐かしむ。
I hanker after my student days.
To long for the old days. 恋しい implies missing something dear.
彼はいつも昔を恋しがっている。
He's always hankering after the past.
憧れる (akogareru) is for idealized longing, often with admiration. 切望する (setsubou suru) is for earnest, desperate desire, more formal and intense.
彼女は歌手に憧れている。
She admires/longs to be a singer.
平和を切望する。
We earnestly desire peace.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'hanker after'. Using a direct equivalent like 憧れる or 欲しがる without context can sound unnatural. Choose the expression that matches the nuance of your longing.