- tokimeki beating (of the heart, with joy, excitement, etc.), palpitation, throbbing, pounding, fluttering
Used in casual and conversational Japanese to describe the exciting, heart-pounding feeling of romantic or joyful anticipation, often in contexts of love or nervous excitement.
彼に会うたびにときめきを感じる。
Kare ni au tabi ni tokimeki o kanjiru.
Every time I meet him, I feel a flutter in my heart.
この曲を聞くと、ときめきがよみがえる。
Kono kyoku o kiku to, tokimeki ga yomigaeru.
When I listen to this song, the excitement comes back.
⚖️ Commonly confused with 'dokidoki', but 'tokimeki' emphasizes the emotional thrill, while 'dokidoki' is more about the physical heartbeat sound.
Press the microphone and say: ときめき
Ready to listen
💡 Use は or が to mark this word as the topic or subject of a sentence.
Found in a wide range of contexts. Useful for building reading and listening fluency.
Save personal notes for every word you study — memory hooks, your own sentences, grammar tips, and personal stories.
Synced to your account · Anki export · Accessible on every device
Create Free AccountReview Premium options
Create a free account to sync your level, streaks, and progress across all devices.
Already a member? Sign in →
Sign in or create a free account to keep your history.
Reset mastery for this word?
Review scheduling updates after each session.
Based on JLPT level, kanji complexity & word length.