How to say "yearning" in Japanese

• 憧れあこがれJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveYearning tinged with admiration and aspiration: longing toward someone or something you look up to and hope to be like or attain — a person, a place, a way of life.
  彼かれは彼女かのじょの恵めぐまれた才能さいのうにあこがれを抱いだいた。↗

  He longed for her talented skills.
• 思慕しぼCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbYearning as deep affection: tenderly longing for someone dear to you — a person missed because they are far away or no longer part of your life.
• 憧憬どうけいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA separate word from 憧れ, sharing its first kanji and covering closely similar ground: admiring, aspirational yearning toward someone or something you look up to.
• 切望せつぼうCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveYearning as earnest desire: an eager, keen longing for something one wants to obtain or see happen — nearer to 'earnest desire' or 'eager hope' than to tender longing for a person.
  私はあなたの成功せいこうを切望せつぼうしています。↗

  I am anxious for your success.

Use 「憧れ」 or 憧憬 for admiring, aspirational yearning toward someone or something looked up to, 思慕 for affectionate longing for a person, and 切望 for earnest desire to obtain or achieve something.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 憧れあこがれyearning
• 思慕しぼyearning
• 憧憬どうけいlonging
• 切望せつぼうearnest desire
• 慕情ぼじょうlonging
• 想望そうぼうlonging
• 悩ましげなやましげyearning (look, etc.)