Entry
メロメロ
meromero
Describes a state of losing one's judgment or composure due to being completely overcome by affection or infatuation.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
メロメロ is a Japanese mimetic word that describes a state where someone loses their composure, strictness, or common sense because they are completely overwhelmed by love or affection. It is commonly used when someone is head over heels for a romantic partner, totally captivated by an idol, or excessively doting on a grandchild or pet. A secondary, less frequent meaning refers to losing all physical strength and collapsing from exhaustion.
- Madly in love
- Doting excessively
- Exhausted
Sense Map
Madly in Love / Doting
Being completely infatuated or enamored, losing all judgment due to overwhelming affection for a romantic interest, child, or pet.
孫にメロメロだ。
Exhausted / Weakened
Losing physical or mental strength, often leading to a collapsed state where one is completely drained. This is an older usage.
暑さでメロメロになった。
Usage Note
How to Use
メロメロになる
Expresses the change of falling deeply in love or becoming captivated by someone or something.
メロメロだ
Describes the ongoing state of being completely infatuated or head over heels.
メロメロにさせる
Describes the action of charming or captivating someone, making them fall in love.
How to Use
Common Phrases
メロメロになる
to fall madly in love
メロメロだ
to be head over heels
メロメロにさせる
to captivate / charm someone
孫にメロメロ
doting on a grandchild
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic interests and idols | positive | Describes a strong, sometimes blinding infatuation where the person is entirely captivated by the other's charm. |
| Grandchildren and pets | positive | Implies dropping all strictness and doting unconditionally. It is often used with a sense of playful surrender to cuteness. |
| Physical exhaustion | negative | Describes a state of being completely drained of energy, though this usage is quite rare in modern everyday Japanese compared to the affection sense. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
いちゃいちゃ いちゃいちゃ / similar | When two people are actively flirting or being physically/verbally affectionate with each other. | イチャイチャ focuses on the mutual interaction between two people, whereas メロメロ describes an internal state of being overwhelmed by affection, which can be one-sided. | 恋人とイチャイチャする。 |
でれっと でれっと / similar | When someone's face or attitude becomes noticeably slack, sloppy, or unguarded due to affection. | でれっと emphasizes the visible loosening of one's expression, while メロメロ focuses more on the total loss of rational judgment due to intense infatuation. | 彼女を見てでれっとする。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
"I love pizza so much, I am meromero for it."
メロメロ is generally reserved for living things, like romantic partners, idols, pets, or babies. It is rarely used for inanimate objects, food, or hobbies.
"I worked 12 hours and I'm meromero."
While it historically means "exhausted," modern Japanese speakers rarely use it this way in daily conversation. It's safer to use くたくた or ヘトヘト for physical tiredness.
Examples
Examples
彼女は新しいアイドルにメロメロになっている。
かのじょはあたらしいアイドルにメロメロになっている。
She is head over heels for the new idol.
FigurativeUsed to express a strong infatuation with a celebrity.
おじいちゃんは初孫にすっかりメロメロだ。
おじいちゃんははつまごにすっかりメロメロだ。
Grandpa is completely doting on his first grandchild.
Figurative"Sukkari meromero" emphasizes that he has completely surrendered his strictness.
子猫の可愛さにメロメロにされた。
こねこのかわいさにメロメロにされた。
I was completely charmed by the kitten's cuteness.
FigurativeUses the passive causative form to show that the cuteness forced the speaker to become infatuated.
猛暑のせいで体力が奪われ、もうメロメロだ。
もうしょのせいでたいりょくがうばわれ、もうメロメロだ。
My stamina was drained by the intense heat, and I'm completely exhausted.
LiteralDemonstrates the secondary meaning of physical exhaustion, though it's less common today.
彼の甘い言葉にメロメロになってしまった。
かれのあまいことばにメロメロになってしまった。
I completely fell for his sweet words.
FigurativeHighlights losing rational judgment due to romantic affection.
Similar Words
イチャイチャ
ichaicha
Couples being physically affectionate, flirting, or acting lovey-dovey with each other. Focuses on the action of flirting or making out, rather than the internal feeling of infatuation.
でれっと
deretto
でれっと describes a state of lacking tension, either by being physically slack and lazy, or by having a fawning, love-struck expression. Emphasizes the visible slackening of one's facial expression or posture due to affection.
くたくた
kutakuta
Describes being completely exhausted, clothing that has become soft and worn out from use, or food boiled until it is mushy.
Questions
Can I use メロメロ for objects like a new car?
It is generally unnatural to use it for inanimate objects. It is mostly reserved for people (partners, babies, idols) or animals.
Is メロメロ mostly used by women?
No, it is gender-neutral. For example, it is very common to describe a tough older man who becomes soft and doting around his grandchildren.
Does メロメロ have a negative nuance?
Not usually. It can sometimes imply someone is acting foolishly or lacking discipline because they are so in love, but it is typically used playfully and affectionately.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1134180
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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