Kokoro is the Japanese word for ‘heart’, ‘mind’, or ‘spirit’, explained

What does “kokoro” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kokoro” to mean ‘heart’, ‘mind’, or ‘spirit’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word well as it is often used in Japanese movies, songs, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail with its origin. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “kokoro” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kokoro”
  • Example #1: how to say “heart” in Japanese
  • Example #2: another usage of “kokoro”
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kokoro”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kokoro”.

• kokoro – 心 (こころ) : a noun meaning ‘heart’, ‘mind’, or ‘spirit’ in Japanese.

Apparently, the meanings are based on the same concept. And actually, they are. It is said that “kokoro” was derived from “kogori” or such. This word was used to refer to a place where something was stagnant. In the old Japanese language, therefore, “kokoro” was strongly related to a place where something was stagnant. “Something” could be feelings, emotions, ideas, and so on. This old concept represents well what “kokoro” is, I think. I do not know what shape it has or even where it is. I know, however, what it is like. It is the place where our feelings, emotions, and ideas are stored.

I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kokoro” and its origin. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

Example #1: how to say “heart” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “watashi no kokoro” to make the subject in the sentence.
• atatakaku – 温かく (あたたかく) : one conjugation of the i-adjective, “atatakai“, which means ‘warm’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• nat – なっ : one conjugation of the verb, “naru”, which means to ‘to get’, ‘to become’, ‘to turn’, or just ‘to be’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after “nat” to make its past tense form, “nat ta”.

This is a typical usage of “kokoro”. In this example, it works as a part of the commonly-used expression, “kokoro ga atatakaku nat ta”, which means ‘a heart got warm’ in Japanese. This expression should be learnt together with its present tense form, “kokoro ga atatakaku naru”. When we want to say “heart” in Japanese, anyway, “kokoro” is a very good option.

Example #2: another usage of “kokoro”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “kokoro” and “soko”. The formed phrase means ‘the bottom of a heart’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of “of”.
• soko – 底 (そこ) : a noun meaning ‘bottom’ in Japanese.
• kara – から : a case particle used to say where something starts. In the example, this is used after “kokoro no soko” to say “from the bottom of my heart” in Japanese.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make the object in the sentence.
• ai shi – 愛し (あいし) : one conjugation of the verb, “ai suru”, which means ‘to love’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form. In the example, this is used after “ai shi” to make its te form, “ai shi te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “iru”.
• iru – いる : an auxiliary verb used to express the continuity of the action described by the preceding verb. In the example, this is used after “ai shi te” to express the continuity of its action.

This is another typical usage of “kokoro”. In this example, it works as a part of the commonly-used expression, “kokoro no soko kara”, which means ‘from the bottom of a heart’ in Japanese.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kokoro” in detail. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kokoro – 心 (こころ) : a noun meaning ‘heart’, ‘mind’, or ‘spirit’ in Japanese. It is said that this word was derived from “kogori” or such. This word was used to refer to a place where something was stagnant. In the old Japanese language, therefore, “kokoro” was considered as a place where something was stagnant. “Something” could be feelings, emotions, ideas, and so on.
• kokoro no soko kara – 心の底から (こころのそこから) : a commonly-used expression meaning ‘from the bottom of a heart’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.