Translation guide
This English idiom means doing something as much as one wants, without restriction. In Japanese, it is expressed with adverbs, verb phrases, and set patterns that convey 'to one's satisfaction' or 'as much as one likes'.
Expressing that someone does something freely, without limit, until satisfied.
Both mean 'to one's heart's content', but 思う存分 is slightly more emphatic and often used in set phrases like 思う存分楽しむ. 好きなだけ is more literal ('as much as you like') and can be used in more everyday situations like offering food or time.
思う存分泣いた。
I cried my heart out.
好きなだけ泣いていいよ。
You can cry as much as you want.
Do not translate 'to one's heart's content' literally as 心の内容に. This is meaningless in Japanese. Use the adverbial phrases provided.
バイキングでは好きなだけ食べられます。
You can eat to your heart's content at the buffet.
彼女はカラオケで思う存分歌った。
She sang to her heart's content at karaoke.
A common adverbial phrase meaning 'to one's heart's content' or 'as much as one likes'. Used with verbs.
思う存分楽しんでください。
Please enjoy yourself to your heart's content.
彼は思う存分食べた。
He ate to his heart's content.
Literally 'as much as you like'. Very common and natural in casual and polite speech.
好きなだけ取ってください。
Please take as much as you like.
好きなだけ遊んでいいよ。
You can play to your heart's content.
A slightly literary phrase meaning 'until one's heart is satisfied'. Often used in written or formal contexts.
心ゆくまでお楽しみください。
Please enjoy yourself to your heart's content.
Literally 'to the point of getting tired of it'. Implies doing something so much that one might get bored, but often used positively.
飽きるほどゲームをした。
I played games to my heart's content.
An adverb meaning 'fully' or 'to one's heart's content'. Often used in formal or written language.
存分に力を発揮してください。
Please demonstrate your abilities to the fullest.