空想
kūsō[kɯ̟ːso̞ː]
The English phrase "reverie" can be translated into Japanese as 空想 (kūsō).
空想 refers to a state of dreaming while awake. To express the act of being lost in a reverie, the verb phrase 空想にふける is commonly used, which means "to indulge in a reverie".
Meaning: state of dreaming while awake (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 空想 can mean a daydream or reverie, it often carries a nuance of 'unrealistic fantasy' or 'fanciful speculation' compared to more neutral terms for daydreaming. 夢幻 refers to a dream-like state or a fantastic reverie.
How do you pronounce it?
kūsō
Did you know?
- In Japanese pop culture, particularly in anime and manga, 空想 is often linked to the 'chuunibyou' phenomenon, where teenagers indulge in fantasies of having secret magical powers.
- The term 空想 was likely coined by Meiji-era scholars to translate Western concepts of 'fantasy' into Japanese using older Buddhist terminology.
- While 空想 describes a reverie, the Japanese language uses the word 空 which means 'empty' or 'sky' to build the concept of fantasy.
Examples in context
- 彼女は静かな 夢幻 に浸っていた。She was immersed in a quiet reverie.
- 彼は幻想的な世界を創り出すことが好きです。He enjoys creating imaginative worlds.
- 彼はいつも妄想にふけっているよ。He's always lost in daydreams.
- あの日の出来事を思い出して 夢見心地 になりました。Remembering the events of that day left me in a blissful reverie.
- 彼女はしばしば空想にふける。Kanojo wa shibashiba kuso ni fukeru.She often indulges in reverie.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are studying in a library.
- 結衣 Yui蓮、ちゃんと聞いてる？Ren, chanto kiiteru?Ren, are you listening?
- 蓮 Renごめん、少し空想していた。gomen, sukoshi kuusou shite ita.Sorry, I was in a bit of a reverie.
- 結衣 Yui何のことを考えていたの？nani no koto o kangaete ita no?What were you thinking about?
- 蓮 Ren休みの日に行く旅行のことだよ。yasumi no hi ni iku ryokou no koto da yo.About the trip I'll take on my day off.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 空想, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 空想, CC BY-SA 4.0.
