Translation guide
Expresses a deep, often emotional desire for something absent, lost, or unattainable. Japanese uses different words depending on whether you miss a person, yearn for a past time, or crave something abstract.
To feel sad because someone or some place is not with you; to wish they were here.
An adjective expressing that you miss someone or something dear. Often used for people, hometowns, or nostalgic things. Feels personal and emotional.
Literally 'want to meet,' but commonly used to say you miss someone and long to see them. Very natural in spoken Japanese.
あなたに会いたい。
I long to see you.
Means 'to feel lonely for' someone or something. Slightly more descriptive than 恋しい.
彼がいなくて寂しく思う。
I long for him; I feel lonely without him.
To wish for a return of a past era, experience, or something that no longer exists.
Verb meaning to fondly remember and long for the past. Often used for childhood, old songs, or bygone days.
学生時代を懐かしむ。
I long for my school days.
Literally 'think I want to go back,' used to express a longing to return to a past time or place.
あの頃に戻りたいと思う。
I long to go back to those days.
To have a strong, often unfulfilled desire for something like love, freedom, or meaning.
Verb meaning to long for, admire, or yearn for something ideal or out of reach. Often used for lifestyles, heroes, or distant goals.
自由に憧れる。
I long for freedom.
都会の生活に憧れている。
I long for city life.
Formal verb meaning to earnestly desire or long for something. Stronger and more intense than 憧れる.
平和を切望する。
I long for peace.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to want something so badly one's hand comes out of one's throat.' Used for intense longing for material things or opportunities.
その車が喉から手が出るほど欲しい。
I'm longing for that car so much I can taste it.
English 'long for' cannot be directly translated word-for-word. Using 長く (long) or 求める (seek) will sound unnatural. Choose the appropriate expression based on what you are longing for.
恋しい is for missing something familiar and dear (people, hometown). 憧れる is for yearning for something admired but not yet attained (ideal life, hero). Don't use 恋しい for abstract ideals like freedom.