Entry
きゅん
kyun
Kyun describes a sudden tightening or squeezing sensation in the chest caused by intense emotion, like love or nostalgia.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Kyun is an onomatopoeia for the emotional sensation of your heart skipping a beat or your chest tightening. It is most often associated with romantic situations, such as seeing someone you have a crush on, but it can also describe the bittersweet heartache of parting, nostalgia, or being deeply moved by something cute or touching.
- romantic heart-flutter
- bittersweet heartache
Sense Map
Romance & Affection
Describes the chest tightening or heart fluttering due to sudden romantic attraction, charm, or fondness.
胸がきゅんとなる
Sadness & Being Moved
Describes a pang of emotional pain, sadness, or nostalgia, often felt during farewells or touching moments.
きゅんと悲しくなる
Usage Note
How to Use
きゅんとする
The standard verb form meaning 'to feel a squeeze in one's heart' or 'to feel one's heart flutter'.
胸がきゅんとなる
A phrase literally meaning 'the chest becomes squeezed', emphasizing the physical sensation of the emotion.
きゅんとくる
Used when an emotion suddenly hits or strikes you, often translated as 'tugging at one's heartstrings'.
How to Use
Common Phrases
胸がきゅんとなる
one's chest tightens (from emotion)
きゅんとする
to feel a heart flutter / to be moved
きゅんとくる
to tug at one's heartstrings
胸をきゅんとさせる
to make someone's heart flutter
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing someone you have a crush on | positive | Expresses the heart-skipping feeling of sudden attraction or infatuation. |
| Saying goodbye to a dear friend | neutral | Expresses a bittersweet ache in the chest caused by nostalgia or separation. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どきどき どきどき / contrast | Used for a fast-beating heart caused by nervousness, excitement, physical exertion, or fear. | Kyun specifically refers to a squeezing or melting feeling in the heart due to sentimentality, affection, or love, not just a rapid pulse. | 緊張してドキドキする |
じーんと じーんと / similar | Used when being deeply moved or touched, often to the point of welling up with tears. | Kyun is a sharp, momentary pang of the heart, while jiin to describes a spreading, lingering warmth or emotional numbness from being profoundly moved. | 映画にジーンと感動する |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using kyun to describe physical chest pain like a heart attack.
Kyun is strictly for emotional 'pain' or tightening. Use 痛い (itai) or 苦しい (kurushii) for actual medical conditions.
Using it to describe extreme fear or anxiety.
Use ドキドキ (dokidoki) or ビクビク (bikubiku) for fear or anxiety. Kyun implies affection, nostalgia, or a bittersweet feeling.
Examples
Examples
彼の笑顔を見て、胸がきゅんとなった。
かれのえがおをみて、むねが[きゅん]となった。
Seeing his smile made my heart flutter.
FigurativeShows a romantic flutter of the heart.
卒業式で友達と別れる時、きゅんと悲しくなった。
そつぎょうしきでともだちとわかれるとき、[きゅん]とかなしくなった。
When parting with friends at graduation, my heart ached with sadness.
FigurativeUsed for a touching sadness during farewells.
昔の写真を見つけて、なんだかきゅんとした。
むかしのしゃしんをみつけて、なんだか[きゅん]とした。
Finding an old photo, I felt a nostalgic tug at my heartstrings.
FigurativeShows nostalgia that squeezes the chest.
その映画のラストシーンに、思わずきゅんときた。
そのえいがのラストシーンに、おもわず[きゅん]ときた。
The final scene of that movie unexpectedly choked me up.
FigurativeUsed when something deeply touches the heart.
子犬の無邪気な姿に胸をきゅんとさせた。
こいぬのむじゃきなすがたにむねを[きゅん]とさせた。
The puppy's innocent behavior made my heart melt.
FigurativeUsed when feeling overwhelmed by cuteness.
Similar Words
ドキドキ
dokidoki
A word that mimics the sound and feeling of a fast-beating heart due to nervousness, excitement, or fear. Nervousness, fear, or a fast pulse.
ジーンと
jiinto
Describes a profound emotional resonance that touches the heart deeply, or a physical sensation of lingering numbness and stinging pain. Deeply moved or emotionally touched to tears.
がっかり
gakkari
To feel disappointed or lose spirit when things don't turn out as expected.
Questions
Is kyun only used by young girls?
While it heavily features in media aimed at younger female demographics (like shoujo manga), anyone can use it to describe being deeply touched by something cute or emotional.
What is the difference between kyun and dokidoki?
Dokidoki is the sound of a heart beating fast from adrenaline (like being scared or nervous). Kyun is the sensation of the heart squeezing or melting from affection or nostalgia.
Can I use kyun when looking at my pet?
Absolutely. Looking at an adorable animal doing something cute often causes a 'kyun' feeling (overwhelming affection).
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2178870
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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