心を奪われる

• Reading: こころをうばわれる
• Romaji: kokoro wo ubawareru
• Kanji breakdown: 心 (shin/kokoro) — heart, mind; 奪 (datsu/uba) — seize, steal, rob
• Pronunciation: /ko.ko.ɾo.o.ɯ.ba.wa.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be captivated by; to be fascinated with; to have one's heart stolen. Describes being deeply enchanted or mesmerized.

A passive expression from the Group 1 (godan) verb 奪う (to steal, to seize). The passive form 奪われる conveys that one's heart has been seized involuntarily by something beautiful, impressive, or compelling. Used for art, scenery, performances, or people.

Examples

1. 美しい夕日に心を奪われた。 I was captivated by the beautiful sunset.
2. ピアニストの演奏に心を奪われて動けなかった。 I was so mesmerized by the pianist's performance that I couldn't move.
3. 初めて見た異国の街並みに心を奪われる。 I find myself enchanted by the streets of a foreign city I'm seeing for the first time.

Usage Guide

Context: art, travel, romance

Tone: poetic

Origin & History

From 心 (heart) and 奪われる (passive of 奪う, to seize/steal). The image is of one's heart being forcibly taken away by something overwhelmingly beautiful or moving.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal