1.
romance, grand dream, sense of adventure
A feeling of excitement and wonder associated with grand ideals, ambitious dreams, or the allure of the unknown. Often used to describe a sense of longing for something epic or aspirational.
ロマン comes from French "roman" (novel/romance) and in Japanese carries a sense of grand dreams, wonder, and aspiration rather than romantic love specifically.
Common collocations
- ロマンがある: to have a sense of wonder/romance
- ロマンを感じる: to feel a sense of romance/wonder
- ロマンを追い求める: to pursue one's grand dream
- 男のロマン: a man's dream/passion
Usage
Unlike English "romance," ロマン does not primarily refer to love. For romantic love, ロマンス is used instead. ロマン emphasizes an idealistic, almost poetic longing—often for adventure, discovery, or grand achievements.