Word
慕う
Meaning in Englishto yearn to adore
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
慕う means to yearn for or to feel a deep emotional pull toward someone or something, often accompanied by affection, longing, or nostalgia.
Main meanings
- to yearn for and miss a person or place
- to feel romantic or nostalgic longing toward someone or something
- to admire or hold in high regard from a distance or in an idealized way
How to use it
慕う is used with a direct object marked by を (for example 故郷を慕う), and it appears in formal, literary, and everyday speech though it leans toward literary or poetic register. It conveys a sustained emotional pull rather than a fleeting thought, and can express longing for people, places, memories, or ideals.
Variants and close terms
- 憧れる (あこがれる) — to yearn for or to admire
- 想う (おもう) — to think of or feel for
- 思いを寄せる (おもいをよせる) — to have feelings for someone
Composition
- 慕 = yearn, long for
- う = verb-ending that turns the noun/kanji into a verb
Word class
verb (五段動詞, u-verb)