The Meaning of akogare [憧れ] In Japanese

憧れ
あこがれ
Romaji: akogare N4

What does 憧れ mean?

Translation and Meaning

longing, yearning, admiration

Definition

憧れ means a wistful longing for someone or something regarded as admirable or ideal, capturing an emotional pull toward a dream, goal, or person and often including a desire to imitate or attain that ideal.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • A deep feeling of longing and admiration toward a person, place, or ideal, often accompanied by a wish to imitate or attain it.
  • Commonly used with の to mark the object of longing, as in 憧れの人, indicating a long-term aspiration.
  • Conveys a sense of romantic or aspirational admiration rather than basic desire.

Etymology

etimologia The noun 憧れ derives from the verb 憧れる; the kanji 憧 carries the sense of longing and the kun reading akogare supplies the pronunciation.

Origin

Origin: Classical and modern Japanese; attested in Heian literature and widely used in contemporary speech to describe longing toward people, places, or ideals.

Composition

  • 憧 means longing or yearning; attaching れ forms the noun 憧れ from the verb 憧れる to denote the abstract feeling

Usage

Usage: Used as a noun; often followed by の to mark the object of longing, as in 憧れの人; commonly appears in both casual speech and formal writing; expressions include 憧れを抱く and 憧れに向かう.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a heart at the bottom of 憧 reaching toward a distant ideal, and pronounce akogare as a ko ga re to remember the rhythm.

Variations

  • あこがれ, akogare – the same word in kana
  • 望み, nozomi – desire or hope, a related nuance
  • 理想, risō – ideal, used to describe the target of longing
  • ロマン, roman – romance or romantic longing, more literary

Example Phrases

  • 子供の頃の憧れを胸に、今日も小さな挑戦を続ける。
    Kodomo no koro no akogare o mune ni, kyou mo chiisana chousen o tsuzukeru.
    With my childhood dream in my heart, I continue small challenges today.
    Lista:
    • 子供の頃の憧れを (kodomo no koro no akogare o) – dream in childhood
    • 胸に (mune ni) – in the heart
    • 今日も (kyou mo) – today as well
    • 小さな (chiisana) – small
    • 挑戦を (chousen o) – challenge (object marker)
    • 続ける (tsuzukeru) – to continue
    The noun 「憧れ」 means a long-cherished dream; here 憧れを胸に uses the を-marked object with 胸に to express keeping the dream in one’s heart as motivation.
憧れ