胸がきゅんとする
むねがきゅんとする
expression
to feel a pang in one's heart; to have one's heart flutter; to feel a tug at one's heartstrings
1.
to feel a pang in one's heart; to have one's heart flutter; to feel a tug at one's heartstrings
彼の笑顔に胸がきゅんとした。
His smile made my heart flutter.
昔の写真を見て胸がきゅんとなった。
Looking at old photos, I felt a tug at my heartstrings.
あの映画のラストシーンは、何度見ても胸がきゅんとする。
No matter how many times I watch it, the last scene of that movie tugs at my heart.
初恋の人の名前を聞いただけで胸がきゅんとしてしまう。
Just hearing the name of my first love makes my heart ache with nostalgia.
Describes a sudden, sharp emotional sensation in the chest — typically from romantic feelings, nostalgia, or being deeply moved. The onomatopoeia きゅん mimics the squeezing sensation in the chest.
VARIATIONS:
- 胸がきゅんとする: the standard form
- 胸がきゅんとなる: slightly more literary
- きゅんとする: abbreviated form, often used casually
- 胸きゅん: abbreviated noun form, very common in pop culture
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 胸きゅんシーン: a heart-fluttering scene
- きゅんとくる: to feel that flutter (casual)
- 胸がきゅんと痛む: to feel a painful tug in the heart
USAGE:
Very popular in romance-related media, song lyrics, and casual conversation among younger speakers. The noun form 胸きゅん has become a buzzword used to describe anything romantically moving or adorable.
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 胸がときめく: heart pounds with excitement — focuses on anticipation and thrill
- 胸が締め付けられる: heart is squeezed tight — stronger, more painful emotion
- 胸が熱くなる: chest grows warm — from being deeply moved or grateful