Entry
キュンキュン
kyunkyun
Kyun-kyun describes the squeezing, fluttering sensation in your chest caused by intense romantic feelings or overwhelming affection.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This mimetic word (gijougo) captures the feeling of your heart skipping a beat or tightening with emotion. It is most commonly used when experiencing romantic attraction, watching a sweet love story, or seeing something incredibly cute like a puppy or a baby.
- Romantic thrill
- Overwhelming cuteness
Sense Map
Romantic Thrill
The sensation of one's heart fluttering or pounding when seeing a crush or experiencing a romantic moment.
胸がキュンキュンする
Overwhelming Affection
A feeling of the heart melting or squeezing when encountering something unbearably cute or endearing.
子犬を見てキュンキュンする
Usage Note
How to Use
キュンキュンする
The most common verb form to express 'my heart flutters' or 'I feel a thrill of affection'.
キュンキュンさせる
The causative form meaning 'to make someone's heart flutter'.
キュンキュンする + Noun
Used to modify a noun, such as a heart-fluttering movie or a sweet quote.
How to Use
Common Phrases
胸がキュンキュンする
one's heart flutters with love/affection
キュンキュンさせる
to make someone's heart flutter
映画を見てキュンキュンする
to feel thrilled/moved by watching a (romantic) movie
キュンキュンするセリフ
a line or quote that makes one's heart flutter
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic situations (watching dramas, dates) | positive | Often associated with youth culture, shoujo manga, and expressing being 'swept off one's feet'. |
| Interacting with pets or cute babies | positive | Conveys an affection so strong that it almost hurts in a good way (cuteness overload). |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どきどき どきどき / similar | Use for a beating heart caused by nervousness, fear, exercise, or general excitement. | Unlike kyun-kyun, which is strictly about affection or romance, doki-doki can be used for negative stress or physical exertion. | 面接でドキドキする |
きゅん きゅん / similar | Use for a single, momentary pang of emotion in the chest. | Kyun-kyun implies a continuous or intense fluttering, whereas kyun is a sudden, one-time skip of the heart. | 胸がきゅんとなる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe being nervous before a test or presentation.
Use doki-doki for anxiety, nervousness, or stage fright.
Using it to describe actual medical chest pain.
This is purely an emotional metaphor. For physical pain, use medical vocabulary or adjectives like itai (痛い).
Examples
Examples
彼の笑顔を見て、胸がキュンキュンした。
かれのえがおをみて、むねがきゅんきゅんした。
Seeing his smile, my heart fluttered.
LiteralUsing the word for chest/heart (mune) along with this word is very common.
子犬の動画は可愛くて、いつもキュンキュンする。
こいぬのどうがはかわいくて、いつもきゅんきゅんする。
Puppy videos are so cute, they always make my heart squeeze with affection.
LiteralExample of usage for overwhelming affection towards pets.
昨夜読んだ少女漫画の展開にキュンキュンした。
さくやよんだしょうじょまんがのてんかいにきゅんきゅんした。
I was thrilled by the plot development of the shoujo manga I read last night.
LiteralOften associated with romantic girls' manga (shoujo).
そんな甘い言葉を言われたら、誰でもキュンキュンしてしまう。
そんなあまいことばをいわれたら、だれでもきゅんきゅんしてしまう。
If told such sweet words, anyone's heart would flutter.
LiteralUsed with 「してしまう」 to show an involuntary emotional reaction.
彼女をキュンキュンさせるようなデートプランを考えたい。
かのじょをきゅんきゅんさせるようなでーとぷらんをかんがえたい。
I want to think of a date plan that will make her heart flutter.
LiteralExample of the causative form, making someone else feel the emotion.
Similar Words
きゅん
kyun
Kyun describes a sudden tightening or squeezing sensation in the chest caused by intense emotion, like love or nostalgia. A shorter, instantaneous version of this feeling.
ドキドキ
dokidoki
A word that mimics the sound and feeling of a fast-beating heart due to nervousness, excitement, or fear. A beating heart that can mean fear or nervousness, not just love.
Questions
Can I use this word when I feel nervous?
No, for nervousness or fear, use dokidoki instead.
What is the difference between kyun-kyun and kyun?
Kyun describes a single flutter or pang, while kyun-kyun implies a stronger, continuous fluttering sensation.
Is this word only used by women?
While it often appears in girls' comics (shoujo) and is frequently used by young women, anyone can use it when seeing something extremely cute or touching.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2836018
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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