憧れる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 憧れる is read あこがれる and means admiring or longing for a person, way of life, occupation, or other attractive prospect.
• Basic usage: It describes something one aspires to or wishes to approach, such as a flying-related career or city life.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• に marks the object of longing
  • Use に for what is admired or longed for, as in 仕事に憧れている and 生活に憧れる.
• 憧れ and 憧れる
  • 憧れ is the noun meaning longing or admiration, while 憧れる is the verb. The short noun phrase 都会への憧れ expresses longing for city life.