興きょうがる

きょ

う

が

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb, intransitive verb

be amused; show interest

rare term

Rare verb meaning to be amused or interested in something; often used with を to mark the object of amusement. Modern Japanese more commonly uses 面白がる or 興味を持つ.

彼かれはその話はなしを興きょうがって聞きいていた。
He listened to the story with amusement.

興

entertain, revive, retrieve

Similar words

面おも白しろがる
Common verb for 'to be amused' or 'to find funny'; 興がる is a rare synonym.
興きょう味みを持もつ
Standard expression for 'to have interest'; 興がる is rarer and more literary.

Etymology

Derived from 興 (きょう, 'interest, amusement') + がる (suffix meaning 'to show signs of, to behave as if'). The exact historical development is uncertain.