heart beating with excitement; throbbing; fluttering
Describes the physical sensation of one's heart pounding or fluttering, typically from positive emotions like joy, anticipation, or romantic excitement. Often used in romantic or uplifting contexts.
彼の笑顔を見るたびに、胸がときめきを覚える。
Every time I see his smile, my heart flutters.
She felt her heart flutter with excitement on their first date.
新しい街での生活に、期待でときめきが止まらない。
I can't stop my heart from pounding with excitement about my new life in the city.
彼の笑顔を見て、思わずときめきを覚えた。
Seeing his smile, I couldn't help feeling a flutter of excitement.
I felt my heart flutter for the first time in a long while.
恋心 refers to romantic feelings or affection for someone, while ときめき is the physical sensation of a fluttering heart that such feelings can produce.
Kana-only form; no kanji form is given.
Derived from the verb ときめく (to throb with excitement), which is of uncertain origin. The word is associated with the sound-symbolic element とき (doki) suggesting a heartbeat.