興奮

• Reading: こうふん
• Romaji: koufun
• Kanji breakdown: 興 (kou) — rise, excite, interest; 奮 (fun) — rouse, stir up
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɸɯ.ɴ/

Meaning

Excitement; agitation; arousal. A state of heightened emotional energy.

Functions as a noun or する verb (興奮する). Describes intense emotional stimulation, whether positive (excitement at a concert) or negative (agitation in an argument). The level of intensity is stronger than simply being happy or interested.

Examples

1. サッカーの試合を見て興奮した。 I got excited watching the soccer game.
2. 子供たちは遠足の前の日に興奮していた。 The kids were all wound up the day before the field trip.
3. あまり興奮しないで、落ち着いてください。 Try not to get too worked up — calm down, please.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, entertainment, daily life

Tone: energetic

Origin & History

Compound of 興 (kou, rise/excite) and 奮 (fun, rouse/stir). Together they mean to rise up and be stirred — a surging of emotional energy.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal