恋
romance, in love, yearn for, miss, darling
Readings
On'yomi
- レン
Kun'yomi
- こ.う
- こい
- こい.しい
Meaning
恋 centers on deep emotional attachment and longing: romantic love, yearning for someone, missing them, or cherishing them as a darling.
Most common words using 恋
20 of 118- 恋こいN3
(romantic) love
- 恋愛れんあいN2
love; romance; tender passion; emotion; affections
- 恋人こいびとN3
lover; sweetheart; boyfriend; girlfriend
- 恋するこいするN1
to fall in love (with); to love
- 初恋はつこいN1
first love; puppy love
- 恋しいこいしいN2
yearned for; longed for; missed
- 失恋しつれんN2
disappointed love; broken heart; unrequited love; being lovelorn
- 恋心こいごころ
(feelings of) love
- 恋仲こいなか
being in love with each other
- 恋歌こいうた
love song; love poem
- 色恋いろこい
sensual love; love affair
- 恋文こいぶみ
love letter
- 悲恋ひれん
blighted love; disappointed love
- 恋敵こいがたき
one's rival in love
- 恋路こいじ
romance; love's pathway
- 恋慕れんぼ
love; attachment; tender emotions; falling in love
- 恋情れんじょう
love; attachment
- 恋うこう
to love
- 片恋かたこい
unrequited love; one-sided love
- 人恋しいひとこいしい
longing for others; wanting company
Study
Etymology
恋 combines 亦 (a phonetic element contributing the sound) with 心 (heart), expressing the idea of love and longing rooted in the heart.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 亦 looks like a person reaching out, and the bottom 心 is the heart. Together, 恋 shows a heart reaching out in romance and yearning.
Reading mnemonic
For レン, imagine a romantic scene with a red lantern glowing: lantern -> ランタン, and the first syllable レン cues the reading while the lantern lights up a lover's heart.