Translation guide
Expresses a deep, often emotional desire for something absent, lost, or unattainable. Japanese uses different words depending on whether you miss a person, yearn for a past time, or crave something abstract.
To feel sad because someone or some place is not with you; to wish they were here.
An adjective expressing that you miss someone or something dear. Often used for people, hometowns, or nostalgic things. Feels personal and emotional.
I long for my family.
I miss the taste of home.
Literally 'want to meet,' but commonly used to say you miss someone and long to see them. Very natural in spoken Japanese.
I long to see you.
Means 'to feel lonely for' someone or something. Slightly more descriptive than 恋しい.
I long for him; I feel lonely without him.
To wish for a return of a past era, experience, or something that no longer exists.
To have a strong, often unfulfilled desire for something like love, freedom, or meaning.
Verb meaning to long for, admire, or yearn for something ideal or out of reach. Often used for lifestyles, heroes, or distant goals.
Formal verb meaning to earnestly desire or long for something. Stronger and more intense than 憧れる.
I long for peace.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to want something so badly one's hand comes out of one's throat.' Used for intense longing for material things or opportunities.
English 'long for' cannot be directly translated word-for-word. Using 長く (long) or 求める (seek) will sound unnatural. Choose the appropriate expression based on what you are longing for.
恋しい is for missing something familiar and dear (people, hometown). 憧れる is for yearning for something admired but not yet attained (ideal life, hero). Don't use 恋しい for abstract ideals like freedom.
I long to go back to those days.
I long for city life.
I'm longing for that car so much I can taste it.