惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む

ほれこむ
verb (godan)
to fall deeply in love with, to be captivated by
自動詞 intransitiveemotion
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まない
Present polite惚(ほ)れ込(こ)みます惚(ほ)れ込(こ)みません
Past惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んだ惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まなかった
Past polite惚(ほ)れ込(こ)みました惚(ほ)れ込(こ)みませんでした
て form惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んで惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まなくて
ている present惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいる惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいない
ている polite惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいます惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいません
ている past惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいた惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいなかった
ている past polite惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいました惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んでいませんでした
Conditional ば惚(ほ)れ込(こ)めば惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まなければ
Conditional たら惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んだら惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まなかったら
Volitional惚(ほ)れ込(こ)もう—
Volitional polite惚(ほ)れ込(こ)みましょう—
Potential惚(ほ)れ込(こ)める惚(ほ)れ込(こ)めない
Passive惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まれる惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まれない
Causative惚(ほ)れ込(こ)ませる惚(ほ)れ込(こ)ませない
Imperative惚(ほ)れ込(こ)め惚(ほ)れ込(こ)むな
1. to fall deeply in love with, to be captivated by
To become thoroughly enamored or deeply attracted to someone or something. Stronger than simple liking — implies being completely won over. Used for romantic attraction, but also for being captivated by a place, a work of art, or an idea.
彼女(かのじょ)に惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んだ。
I fell head over heels for her.
I was so captivated by the scenery here that I decided to move.
He was so taken with the screenplay that he volunteered to direct it himself.

Godan verb (む-ending). 惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む → 惚(ほ)れ込(こ)まない → 惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んだ → 惚(ほ)れ込(こ)んで

Usage

惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む is an intensified form of 惚(ほ)れる (to fall in love with). The 込(こ)む suffix adds the sense of depth and thoroughness — being deeply and completely captivated.

Used for both romantic and non-romantic contexts. Often takes the particle に to mark the object of fascination.

Common collocations

  • ~に惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む: to be captivated by ~
  • すっかり惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む: to be completely smitten
  • 一目(ひとめ)で惚(ほ)れ込(こ)む: to be captivated at first sight