Koi no Yokan
noun /ˌkɔɪ nəʊ jəʊˈkɑːn/ — The sense, upon meeting someone, that you will inevitably fall in love.
Definition
The premonition of love — not love itself, but the quiet certainty felt upon first meeting someone that the two of you will fall in love. Neither hope nor fantasy; more like recognition.
Beyond the definition
It's different from love at first sight. Love at first sight is immediate. Koi no yokan is the knowing — the sense that something significant has begun, that time will simply confirm what the soul already understands.
Origin & history
Japanese: 'koi' (romantic love) + 'no' (possessive particle) + 'yokan' (premonition/sense of things to come).
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She couldn't explain it, but the moment they met, koi no yokan settled over her.
He didn't believe in such things, until one evening across a table he felt it.
It wasn't love — not yet. But it was koi no yokan.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Koi no Yokan” when the meaning fits your context: The premonition of love — not love itself, but the quiet certainty felt upon first meeting someone that the two of you will fall in love. Neither hope nor fantasy; more like recognition.
Synonyms
love premonition, fated meeting, romantic foreboding
Antonyms
indifference, avoidance
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Koi no Yokan" mean?
Koi no Yokan is noun meaning: The sense, upon meeting someone, that you will inevitably fall in love.. The premonition of love — not love itself, but the quiet certainty felt upon first meeting someone that the two of you will fall in love. Neither hope nor fantasy; more like recognition.
Where does the word "Koi no Yokan" come from?
Japanese: 'koi' (romantic love) + 'no' (possessive particle) + 'yokan' (premonition/sense of things to come).