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Kotomora

恋

romance, in love, yearn for, miss, darling

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

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

Explore all words using 恋 →

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.