How to Say ‘My heart was pounding.’ in Japanese
心臓がどきどきした。
shinzou ga dokidoki shi ta
[sheen-zoh ga doh-kee-doh-kee shee ta]
💬 Usage Tip: Literally, '[My] heart went [どきどき].' This is a very natural way to describe stress, excitement, or suspense during a match.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese fans often talk about physical reactions to tense moments. This phrase fits a nail-biting World Cup close call perfectly.
Phrase Breakdown
心臓
shinzou
[sheen-zoh]
heart
The subject of the sentence, expressing a strong emotional reaction.
心臓がどきどきした。
My heart was pounding.
が
ga
[ga]
subject marker
Marks 心臓 as the thing doing the action or being in the state.
心臓がどきどきした。
My heart was pounding.
どきどきした
dokidoki shi ta
my heart was pounding; I felt nervous/excited
Describes a fast, fluttering heartbeat caused by nerves, excitement, or anticipation.
試合の前にどきどきした。
I was nervous before the match.
Words in this phrase
どきどき
dokidoki
[doh-kee-doh-kee]
thump-thump; pounding
Describes the feeling of a fast-beating heart from tension or excitement.
あの場面で心臓がどきどきした。
At that moment, my heart was pounding.
し
shi
[shee]
did
Turns the sound word into an action/state expression with する.
見ているだけで心臓がどきどきした。
Just watching made my heart pound.
た
ta
[ta]
past tense marker
Shows the feeling happened during that play.
最後の一分は心臓がどきどきした。
In the last minute, my heart was pounding.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager