Japanese word

ふける

Pronunciation

Romajifukeru

Meaning

  • verbbe absorbed in

Example

彼は読書にふけります。kare wa doku sho ni fu ke ri ma su

He is absorbed in reading.

Illustration for ふける (be absorbed in)

More examples

彼女は物思いにふけって、返事を忘れました。kano jo wa mono omo i ni fu ke tte hen ji o wasu re ma shi ta

She became lost in thought and forgot to reply.

Core concept

Describes becoming so deeply absorbed in an activity or state of mind that it fills one's attention.

Common phrases

  • 読書にふけるdoku sho ni fu ke ru

    be absorbed in reading

  • 物思いにふけるmono omo i ni fu ke ru

    be lost in thought

  • 空想にふけるkū sō ni fu ke ru

    indulge in daydreaming

Similar words

没頭するbottōsuru: To focus completely on an activity until it occupies nearly all of one's attention.
熱中するnetchūsuru: To be strongly engaged in an activity because of intense interest in it.
のめり込むnomerikomu: To get deeply drawn into an activity and become hard to pull away from it.
打ち込むuchikomu: To apply oneself to an activity with sustained concentration and dedication.

Definition in Japanese

何かに心を奪われ、夢中になって時を過ごすこと。nan ka ni kokoro o uba wa re mu chū ni na tte toki o su go su ko to

Word origin

ふける (fukeru, "be absorbed") is a native Japanese verb, usually written 耽る (fukeru, "indulge or give oneself up to"); no certain foreign source or detailed older formation is established.

Usage tips

  • The expression 物思いにふける (monoomoi ni fukeru, "be lost in thought") has a literary tone and describes sustained inner reflection rather than a brief thought.

Other meanings

  • indulge inverb
  • give oneself up toverb

Word lists with this word