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道Nihongo Path
憧

憧·yearn, admire

On-yomi
ショウドウ
Kun-yomi
あこが(れる)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

15 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
憧れるあこがれるto long for, to admire
憧れあこがれyearning, longing
憧憬しょうけいyearning, aspiration (formal)
憧れの的あこがれのまとobject of admiration

Example sentences

  1. 子どものころ、宇宙飛行士に憧れていた。

    こどものころ、うちゅうひこうしにあこがれていた。

    As a child I dreamed of being an astronaut.

  2. 彼女はみんなの憧れの的だ。

    かのじょはみんなのあこがれのまとだ。

    She is everyone's object of admiration.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Using 憧れる with を — the particle is に: 〜に憧れる
  • Reading 憧憬 as どうけい — しょうけい is the standard reading, though どうけい is also heard

Memory aid

Picture it

The heart 忄 beside 童 (a child) — the heart gazing up at something the way a child gazes at a hero.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 憧 mean?