1.
longing, yearning, aspiration, admiration
A strong feeling of longing or admiration for someone, something, or a way of life that one finds ideal or desirable. Implies looking up to something as an aspiration rather than feeling envious.
海外生活への憧れがある。
I have a longing for life overseas.
彼女は子どもの頃からの憧れの存在だ。
She has been someone I've admired since childhood.
長年の憧れだったパリに、ついに行くことができた。
I was finally able to visit Paris, which had been a long-held dream of mine.
憧れ is the noun form of the verb 憧れる (to long for, to admire).
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 憧れの～: the ～ one admires/longs for (e.g., 憧れの人 = the person one admires)
- ～への憧れ: longing for ～
- 憧れを抱く: to harbor an aspiration
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 憧れ: admiring longing, aspiration (positive, looking up)
- 恋しい: yearning for someone (romantic or nostalgic)
- 羨ましい: envious (wanting what others have)
- 望み: hope, wish (more concrete or achievable)
NOTE:
憧れ is always positive — it expresses admiration without jealousy or resentment. The object of 憧れ is seen as an ideal to aspire toward.