ときめく
ときめく
verb (godan, intransitive)
to throb; to flutter; to be excited
1.
to throb; to flutter; to be excited
For one's heart to beat fast with excitement, anticipation, or romantic feelings. Describes a positive emotional flutter.
彼を見ると胸がときめく。
My heart flutters when I see him.
新しい出会いにときめいている。
I'm excited about meeting someone new.
ときめきを感じなくなった。
I stopped feeling that flutter of excitement.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive verb (自動詞). No pair verb.
KANJI:
Sometimes written as 時めく, though hiragana is standard.
USAGE:
ときめく describes a positive emotional excitement, often associated with romance, new experiences, or anticipation. It's a softer, more pleasant sensation than anxiety.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 胸がときめく (heart flutters)
- ときめきを感じる (to feel excitement)
- ときめく出会い (exciting encounter)
RELATED NOUN:
ときめき - flutter, excitement, thrill
- ときめきがある (to feel excitement)
- ときめきを与える (to give someone a thrill)
CULTURAL NOTE:
Famously used in Marie Kondo's tidying philosophy: 「ときめくかどうか」(whether it sparks joy) as a criterion for keeping possessions.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- どきどきする - heart pounding (can be anxiety or excitement)
- わくわくする - to be excited (anticipation-focused)
- 興奮する - to be excited (stronger, more general)