Entry
ルンルン
runrun
Describes a lighthearted, bubbly feeling of happiness and excitement.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Runrun expresses an innocent, buoyant mood where someone is so happy and excited that their heart feels like it is dancing. It is often used when anticipating a fun event or feeling upbeat after something good happens.
- A lighthearted, bouncy feeling of excitement
Sense Map
Cheerful and Excited
Used when someone is in a great mood, often humming or skipping because they are happy about something.
ルンルン気分で歩く
Anticipation
Used when looking forward to a fun or exciting event.
デートの約束をしてルンルンだ
Usage Note
How to Use
ルンルン気分で
Combines with kibun (mood) to act as a noun phrase meaning a cheerful mood.
ルンルンで
ルンルンだ
ルンルンする
How to Use
Common Phrases
ルンルン気分
a happy mood
ルンルン気分で
in a happy mood
ルンルンで
cheerfully
ルンルンしている
to be in a good mood
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Work or Formal | Casual | Too casual for formal situations; implies a carefree attitude. |
| Everyday Life | Positive | Excellent for expressing a good mood among friends. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
うきうき うきうき / similar | When looking forward to something good and feeling so happy you cannot sit still. | ルンルン portrays a more carefree, visible cheerfulness, like humming a tune. | ウキウキして待つ |
わくわく わくわく / similar | When your heart beats fast with hope, thrill, or a sense of adventure. | ワクワク is a strong internal thrill, while ルンルン is a pure, innocent good mood. | ワクワクする冒険 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
ルンルンな気持ち
It is more natural to say ルンルン気分 (runrun kibun) rather than using it as a na-adjective with kimochi.
ルンルンする気持ち
Same as above, ルンルン気分 is the established phrase.
Examples
Examples
彼女は気になる男性から映画に誘われたそうで、ルンルン気分で映画館へ向かった。
かのじょはきになるだんせいからえいがにさそわれたそうで、ルンルンきぶんでえいがかんへむかった。
It seems she was invited to a movie by a guy she is interested in, so she headed to the theater in a cheerfully buoyant mood.
LiteralThis vividly describes her walking to the theater with a very light, happy step.
彼は何かいいことでもあったのか、仕事が終わるとルンルン気分で帰って行った。
かれはなにかいいことでもあったのか、しごとがおわるとルンルンきぶんでかえっていった。
I wonder if something good happened to him, because when work ended, he went home in a bouncy, cheerful mood.
LiteralShows that his good mood was very visible and obvious to others.
明日から旅行なので、朝からルンルンしている。
あしたからりょこうなので、あさからルンルンしている。
Since I am going on a trip starting tomorrow, I have been in a bouncy mood since morning.
LiteralThis verb form is used here to show the ongoing happy state.
新しい服を買って、ルンルンで家に帰った。
あたらしいふくをかって、ルンルンでいえにかえった。
I bought new clothes and went home with a cheerful bounce in my step.
LiteralThis is a short, casual way to say cheerfully or in a good mood.
お小遣いをもらって、子供はルンルンだ。
おこづかいをもらって、こどもはルンルンだ。
The child is thrilled and bouncy after receiving their allowance.
LiteralUsed at the end of the sentence to state the subject's condition. It fits the innocent joy of a child perfectly.
Similar Words
うきうき
ukiuki
Describes a buoyant, cheerful mood or the feeling of happy anticipation for something pleasant. When looking forward to something good and feeling so happy you cannot sit still. ルンルン portrays a more carefree, visible cheerfulness, like humming a tune.
わくわく
wakuwaku
Wakuwaku means to be positively excited, thrilled, and happily anticipating something. When your heart beats fast with hope, thrill, or a sense of adventure. ワクワク is a strong internal thrill, while ルンルン is a pure, innocent good mood.
Questions
Can men use ルンルン?
Yes, but it sounds a bit feminine or childish, so adult men rarely use it for themselves unless they are joking.
What is the difference with ウキウキ?
Both are similar, but ルンルン emphasizes a cheerful mood like wanting to sing, while ウキウキ is more of a feeling of not being able to stay still out of happiness.
Can ルンルン be used as a verb?
Yes, using the form ルンルンする, but it is more often used as a noun in the form ルンルン気分.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 903768991
- Source
- Internal
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- うきうき (ukiuki)
- Next entry
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