Japanese Conversation · Level 37
90 words
Japanese word
初恋
Pronunciation
Romajihatsukoi
Meaning
- nounfirst love
Example
その歌を聞くと、初恋を思い出します。so no uta o ki ku to hatsu koi o omo i da shi ma su
That song reminds me of my first love.
More examples
彼は初恋の人と同窓会で再会しました。kare wa hatsu koi no hito to dō sō kai de sai kai shi ma shi ta
He met his first love again at a class reunion.
Core concept
Refers to the first romantic attachment a person experiences, marked by the newness of loving someone in that way.
Common phrases
初恋の相手hatsu koi no ai te
first love
初恋を思い出すhatsu koi o omo i da su
remember one's first love
Similar words
恋koi: A romantic feeling toward another person that can occur at any point in life.
Definition in Japanese
その人が初めて経験する恋愛。so no hito ga haji me te kei ken su ru ren ai
Word origin
The native Japanese compound 初 (hatsu, "first") + 恋 (koi, "romantic love") forms 初恋 (hatsukoi), meaning a person's first romantic love.
Usage tips
- In English, first love is neutral, while puppy love often suggests youthful and inexperienced affection rather than simply a person's first romance.
Other meanings
- puppy lovenoun