憧れる・憬れる|あこがれるakogareru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
憧れる憧れる（あこがれる） is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it as your usual written form.
憬れる憬れる（あこがれる） is a rarely used mixed kanji-kana form; you may encounter it, but it is not the usual choice.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto long for; to yearn for; to hanker after; to be attracted by; to be drawn to; to aspire to; to admire; to adore
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 憧れる（あこがれる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 憧れます（あこがれます） |
| Negative (nai) | 憧れない（あこがれない） |
| polite (masen) | 憧れません（あこがれません） |
| classical zu / nu | 憧れず・憧れぬ（あこがれず・あこがれぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 憧れた（あこがれた） |
| polite (mashita) | 憧れました（あこがれました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 憧れなかった（あこがれなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 憧れませんでした（あこがれませんでした） |
| Te form | 憧れて（あこがれて） |
| Potential | 憧れられる（あこがれられる） |
| Passive | 憧れられる（あこがれられる） |
| Causative | 憧れさせる（あこがれさせる） |
| Causative passive | 憧れさせられる（あこがれさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 憧れれば（あこがれれば） |
| tara | 憧れたら（あこがれたら） |
| Volitional | 憧れよう（あこがれよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 憧れましょう（あこがれましょう） |
| Imperative | 憧れろ（あこがれろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym慕うしたうNeutralLonging for or admiring someone, as in 「先生を慕う」; the object is nearly always a person, and it carries closeness and attachment rather than yearning for an ideal.
- Synonym憧憬どうけいWrittenA written Sino-Japanese noun for the same longing, as in 「憧憬の念」; more literary than 「憧れる」.
- Related崇拝すうはいNeutralWorship, as in 「英雄崇拝」; stronger than 「憧れる」 and carries a religious overtone.
- Related仰ぐあおぐWrittenWritten word for looking up to or revering someone, or turning to them for guidance, as in 「師と仰ぐ」.
- Related傾倒けいとうWrittenWritten word for being deeply devoted to a person or idea, as in 「マルクスに傾倒する」; stresses wholehearted devotion.
- Related敬ううやまうNeutralTo respect elders or deities, as in 「老人を敬う」; centers on respectful treatment and, unlike 「憧れる」, holds no yearning.
- Related尊敬そんけいNeutralRespect, as in 「両親を尊敬する」; centers on esteeming someone's character, while 「憧れる」 stresses wanting to become or obtain something.
- Related渇仰かつごうFormalFormal term originally for devout reverence in Buddhism; rarely used today.
- Related仰ぎ見るあおぎみるWrittenTo look up at or revere, as in 「空を仰ぎ見る」; leans toward the literal act of gazing upward or toward reverence.
- Related景仰けいこうFormalFormal word for deep admiration and reverence; rarely used today.
- Related尊むとうとむWrittenWritten word meaning to prize or honor; centers on valuing something's worth rather than yearning for it.
- Related仰望ぎょうぼうWrittenWritten word for gazing upward or revering someone; rarely used today.
- Related欽慕きんぼFormalFormal word for admiring and revering someone; rarely used today.
- Related敬慕けいぼWrittenWritten word for loving and respecting someone; few examples in use.
- Antonym嫌うきらうNeutralTo dislike or hate; the opposite of the attraction felt in 「憧れる」.
- Antonym軽蔑するNeutralTo despise or look down on someone; the opposite of the admiration expressed by 「憧れる」.
Use 「憧れる」 for yearning for an ideal or admiring someone, as in 「都会に憧れる」 and 「先輩に憧れる」. For missing or being attached to a person, say 「慕う」; for respect, 「尊敬」; for worship, 「崇拝」. The opposite feeling is 「嫌う」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
