Japanese word

恋しい

Pronunciation

Romajikoishii

Meaning

  • i-adjectivemiss

Example

故郷が恋しいです。ko kyō ga koi shi i de su

I miss my hometown.

Illustration for 恋しい (miss)

More examples

古い写真を見ると、子どもの頃が恋しくなります。furu i sha shin o mi ru to ko do mo no koro ga koi shi ku na ri ma su

Looking at old photos makes me miss my childhood.

Core concept

Expresses a strong emotional pull toward an absent person, place, or thing that the speaker longs to have close again.

Common phrases

  • 家族が恋しいka zoku ga koi shi i

    miss one's family

  • 母が恋しいhaha ga koi shi i

    miss one's mother

  • 故郷が恋しいko kyō ga koi shi i

    miss home

Similar words

懐かしいnatsukashii: Describes warm feelings toward a person, place, or time remembered from the past.
愛しいitoshii: Describes someone or something deeply dear and precious, whether present or absent.

Definition in Japanese

離れている人や故郷などを身近に感じたいと強く思うさま。hana re te i ru hito ya ko kyō na do o mi jika ni kan ji ta i to tsuyo ku omo u sa ma

Word origin

恋しい (koishii) is the modern form of classical 恋し (koishi), a word historically associated with 恋う (kō, "to yearn for").

Usage tips

  • Unlike the broad English verb "miss," 恋しい (koishii) foregrounds emotional longing, so it can sound especially heartfelt when used for a person or place.

Related words

  • 恋しさkoishisalongingnoun
  • 恋しがるkoishigaruyearn forverb

Word lists with this word