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憧れ (あこがれ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
yearning ; longing ; admiration
A deep emotional desire or admiration for something or someone, often with a sense of idealization or unattainability. Commonly used for dreams, goals, or people one looks up to.
子こ 供ども の 頃ころ 、 パイロット に 憧あこが れ て い た 。
When I was a child, I admired pilots and wanted to become one.
Written forms 憧あこが れ Usage 72%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
あこがれ Usage 28%
憬あこが れ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should recognize it but use 憧れ.
Kanji 憧 yearn after, long for, aspire to 憬 yearn for, aspire to, admire Similar words 憧あこが れる 憧れ is the noun form, while 憧れる is the verb 'to yearn for, to admire'. The noun is often used with 抱く or の, while the verb takes に.
希き 望ぼう 希望 is a more concrete 'hope' or 'wish', often for achievable things. 憧れ implies a stronger emotional, sometimes romanticized, admiration.
Etymology Derived from the verb 憧れる (akogareru), which originally meant 'to be attracted' or 'to yearn'. The noun form 憧れ has been used since the Heian period. The kanji 憧 is composed of 心 (heart) and 童 (child), suggesting a pure, heartfelt longing.
