胸(むね)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

emotion

1. to feel a pang in one's heart; to have one's heart flutter; to feel a tug at one's heartstrings

彼(かれ)の笑顔(えがお)に胸(むね)がきゅんとした。

His smile made my heart flutter.

昔(むかし)の写真(しゃしん)を見(み)て胸(むね)がきゅんとなった。

Looking at old photos, I felt a tug at my heartstrings.

あの映画(えいが)のラストシーンは、何度(なんど)見(み)ても胸(むね)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(はつこい)の人(ひと)の名前(なまえ)を聞(き)いただけで胸(むね)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.

Forms

胸(むね)がきゅんとする: the standard form
胸(むね)がきゅんとなる: slightly more literary
きゅんとする: abbreviated form, often used casually
胸(むね)きゅん: abbreviated noun form, very common in pop culture

Common collocations

胸(むね)きゅんシーン: a heart-fluttering scene
きゅんとくる: to feel that flutter (casual)
胸(むね)がきゅんと痛(いた)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(むね)きゅん has become a buzzword used to describe anything romantically moving or adorable.

Similar words

胸(むね)がときめく: heart pounds with excitement — focuses on anticipation and thrill
胸(むね)が締(し)め付(つ)けられる: heart is squeezed tight — stronger, more painful emotion
胸(むね)が熱(あつ)くなる: chest grows warm — from being deeply moved or grateful

Related Words

Compare: 胸(むね)が熱(あつ)くなる (chest grows warm)

general

Added 2026.4.22 21:39 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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