胸むねにこたえる

胸にこたえる · ichidan verb

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	胸むねにこたえる	胸むねにこたえない
Polite	胸むねにこたえます	胸むねにこたえません
Past polite	胸むねにこたえました	胸むねにこたえませんでした
Past	胸むねにこたえた	胸むねにこたえなかった
Te-form	胸むねにこたえて	胸むねにこたえないで
Desire	胸むねにこたえたい	胸むねにこたえたくない
Potential	胸むねにこたえられるalso 胸むねにこたえれる	胸むねにこたえられないalso 胸むねにこたえれない
Passive	胸むねにこたえられる	胸むねにこたえられない
Causative	胸むねにこたえさせる	胸むねにこたえさせない
Causative passive	胸むねにこたえさせられる	胸むねにこたえさせられない
Volitional	胸むねにこたえよう
Polite volitional	胸むねにこたえましょう
Imperative	胸むねにこたえろ	胸むねにこたえるな
Conditional	胸むねにこたえれば	胸むねにこたえなければ
Tara conditional	胸むねにこたえたら	胸むねにこたえなかったら

Meanings

expression, ichidan verb

hit home; strike a chord; cut to the quick

Describes words, events, or realizations that deeply affect one emotionally, often with a poignant or sobering impact. The subject is typically something that resonates in the heart.

彼かれの最さい後ごの言こと葉ばが胸むねにこたえた。
His final words struck a chord with me.
その映えい画がのラストシーンは胸むねにこたえるものがあった。
The last scene of that movie really hit home.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

胸bosom, breast, chest
応apply, answer, yes

Related words

心こころに響ひびく
Similar in meaning, but 心に響く often implies a positive, inspiring resonance, while 胸にこたえる can carry a heavier, sometimes painful emotional weight.
身みにしみる
Also means to feel deeply, but 身にしみる emphasizes a physical or experiential realization (e.g., cold, kindness), whereas 胸にこたえる focuses on emotional impact.

Written forms

胸むねにこたえる
Standard kana-mixed spelling; the verb part is usually written in kana to avoid confusion with other 応える readings.
胸むねに応こたえる
Kanji spelling using 応える; less common and may be confused with other meanings of 応える.

Etymology

A set phrase combining 胸 (chest/heart) with こたえる (to affect deeply). The verb こたえる in this sense is often written in kana to distinguish it from other kanji uses.