頭あたまをよぎる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

Used when a thought, memory, or image briefly comes to mind, often unexpectedly. The subject is usually a noun phrase marked with が.

ふと、彼かれの言こと葉ばが頭あたまをよぎった。
His words suddenly crossed my mind.
嫌いやな予よ感かんが頭あたまをよぎる

。

A bad feeling crosses my mind.

Written forms

頭あたまをよぎる
Common kana-mixed spelling; よぎる is usually written in kana for this expression.
頭あたまを過よぎる
Kanji spelling using 過ぎる; less common but still seen.

Kanji

頭head, counter for large animals
過overdo, exceed, go beyond

Similar words

思おもい浮うかぶ
思い浮かぶ is more deliberate, meaning 'to come to mind' when trying to recall something, while 頭をよぎる is often involuntary and fleeting.
心こころをよぎる
Similar meaning but uses 心 (heart/mind) instead of 頭 (head), emphasizing emotional or intuitive flashes rather than rational thoughts.

Etymology

The verb よぎる (過ぎる in kanji) means 'to pass through' or 'to go across'. Combined with 頭 (head/mind), the expression literally means 'to pass through one's head', metaphorically describing a thought or memory that briefly surfaces.