Clicking and fancying
Idioms, Stage 2chunk 16 of 21Getting on with people
Whether two people get on, and whether someone is into you.
- ki ga auget along, click with someoneliterally “spirits fit”
- ki ga arube into someone, fancy someoneliterally “there is spirit (toward someone)”
- ki o hikucatch someone's attention or interest (often romantic)literally “draw someone's spirit”
- myaku arithere's a chance (they like you back)literally “pulse present”
Mix-ups ki ga au (get along) vs ki ga aru (fancy someone) differ by one sound, and ki o hiku (catch their eye) is a third ki frame; myaku ga aru (there's a chance) is the sign, not the feeling.
ki ga au
polite ki ga aimasu
“spirits fit”
get along, click with someone
In English: be on the same wavelength
For friends, colleagues or partners you naturally click with (ki ga au hito), often negative too (joushi to ki ga awanai). The au is 合う (fit), not 会う (meet); don't confuse it with ki ga aru (be into someone).
Negative ki ga awanai = just don't get on. Near-twin: uma ga au.
kanojo to wa nanka ki ga au n da yo ne.
I just click with her somehow.
彼女とはなんか気が合うんだよね。
kanojo to wa nanka ki ga au n desu yo ne.
I just click with her somehow.
彼女とはなんか気が合うんですよね。
Written 気が合う · きがあうHeard 68× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga aruMain list -nai (Stage 1)
ki ga aru
polite ki ga arimasu
“there is spirit (toward someone)”
be into someone, fancy someone
In English: have a thing for someone
Gossip about who fancies whom, always X ni ki ga aru: ano ko, kimi ni ki ga aru yo. Without ni it means being willing (yaru ki ga aru); don't confuse it with ki ga au (get along).
Negative ki ga nai = not interested.
kare, zettai kimi ni ki ga aru yo.
He's definitely into you.
彼、絶対君に気があるよ。
kare, zettai satou-san ni ki ga arimasu yo.
He's definitely into you, Ms Sato.
彼、絶対佐藤さんに気がありますよ。
Written 気がある · きがあるHeard 27× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki ga auMain list aru (Stage 1)
ki o hiku
polite ki o hikimasu
“draw someone's spirit”
catch someone's attention or interest (often romantic)
Dating talk about winning someone's interest, usually heard as wanting or trying to: kare no ki o hikitakute (because I wanted his attention), ki o hikou to shite. Also a child acting up to be noticed, or drawing attention away as a decoy: boku ga ki o hiku kara, nigete (I'll distract them, you run). ki ga aru is already being into someone, and myaku ari is them liking you back.
Not hiku on its own, slang for being put off (sore wa hiku), nor ki o hikishimeru (brace yourself). ki o hiite miru = sound out how someone feels.
kare no ki o hikitakute, wazato sokkenaku shiteru no.
I'm playing it cool on purpose to get his attention.
彼の気を引きたくて、わざとそっけなくしてるの。
kare no ki o hikitakute, wazato sokkenaku shite iru n desu.
I'm playing it cool on purpose to get his attention.
彼の気を引きたくて、わざとそっけなくしているんです。
Written 気を引く · きをひくHeard 90× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside myaku ari, issen o koeru (Stage 4), futamata o kakeru (Stage 4)Main list -tai (Stage 2), -teru (Stage 1)
myaku ari
polite myaku ari desu
“pulse present”
there's a chance (they like you back)
In English: be in with a chance
Dating talk reading someone's signals: sore, myaku ari da yo (you've got a shot), or the letdown myaku nashi ka (no chance, then). Also outside romance for a deal or lead that still has hope: kono hanashi, myaku ari da na. ki ga aru is someone actually being into you.
Opposite: myaku nashi (no chance). Plain myaku ga aru / myaku ga nai is usually a doctor checking a pulse; mada myaku wa aru = there's still hope (any situation).
henji sugu kuru n desho? sore, myaku ari da yo.
He texts back right away? You've got a shot.
返事すぐ来るんでしょ？それ、脈ありだよ。
henji ga hayai nara, myaku ari desu yo.
If he replies fast, you've got a shot.
返事が早いなら、脈ありですよ。
Written 脈あり · みゃくありHeard 25× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside ki o hiku, issen o koeru (Stage 4), futamata o kakeru (Stage 4)Main list sugu (Stage 2), desho? (Stage 3), -nara (Stage 2), hayai (Stage 3)