How to Say "I Love You" in Japanese (+ More Ways to Express Your Love!) (2023)

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Ah… those three little words ❤

Some people have said that "I love you" are the three most powerful words in the English language.

It is also one of the most common phrases people want to learn in a foreign language.

So,How do you sayI love youin Japanese?

It might not surprise you that professing your love in Japanese is a bit more complicated than in English.

Let's see the different ways to say it!

Ai shiteru

amar

I love you

The most literal way to say "I love you" in Japanese isai shiteru(I love you / I love you) orai shiteru yofor emphasis.That's the phrase you may be familiar withcheered upor textbooks.

the kanji characterai(愛) means love. If you can already read some kanji and see well, you might recognize the character for heart (心 /Taste) curled up in the center of the figure for love. Oh how sweet!

You have a sister(to love / to love) is the verb to love. Combine the nounai(love) with the verbsuru, also.Ai shiteruis the usual way of saying "I love you" in the present tense. (Schiteromeans "I do", so you can imagineai shiterulike 'I'm making love' if it helps you remember!)

of(よ) is a particle used at the end of sentences for emphasis. You don't have to say it, but it can sound looser and more natural.

There is also the more formal form,ai shiteimasu(I love you I love you). Realistically, this is rarely used. When you're ready to declare your love to someone, you're probably close enough to use casual language!

But actually, none of these are the most common ways to express your love in Japanese.

Aiis a very strong word in Japanese. It refers to a deep, lasting, and romantic love.

Normally you would just sayai shiteru yoto a person with whom you feel very connected. That's what you would say to your significant other when you are ready to get married.

Even then, couples don't tell each other that regularly. It sounds too heavy and formal.

Some people can only sayai shiterua few times in life. For example when they want and when they die! you definitely wouldn't sayai shiterusomeone you happen to date.

what can you say instead

Suki

if

I like you I love you

You may have learned thatSuki(like / like) means 'me gusta'.

And you would be fine!SukiIt can be translated as how, but it can also mean love. It depends a lot on the context.

Think of it this way: love is a nuanced thing. There aremany different kinds of love, and many different ways to express your love in English too: I love you, I adore you, I'm in love with you, I'm crazy about you...

The love you feel for your boyfriend or girlfriend is different than the love you feel for your parents.Your best friend, your pet cat or for matcha choc chip ice cream.

SukiIt is the most common and natural way of expressing affection, love, or admiration for someone or something in Japanese.

Keep in mind that the Japanese are often not as expressive with words as other cultures. The actual meaning depends on the context.

SoSuki!A first date probably doesn't mean that someone wants to marry you and have babies right away. It means they like you and want to see more of you.

Butsuki desusaid in a tender moment in a long-term relationship can mean "I love you" as we usually say it in English.

SukiIt is often used to tell someone that you are interested in them and want to take your relationship to the next level. So don't tell a casual boyfriend unless you have romantic feelings for him!

You can also add different endings for emphasis. Here are some variants:

• Suki(as) - casual, more feminine
• suki desu(I like) - more polite, neutral
• criticize the(I like) – more masculine
• suki da yo(I love you) - more masculine
• suki yo(Sukiyo) – weiblicher
• suki yanén!(Sukiyanen) - Kansai dialect (but widely known throughout Japan) Sounds fun and witty.

By the way,SukiIt's also the way of saying that you like everything, even inanimate objects.

So you can say:

• nihon ga suki desu(I like Japan) – I like Japan.
• Pizza-Ga-Suki(I like pizza) - I like pizza.

Daisuki

really like

i really like you i love you

Daisuki(Te amo / Te amo) means "I really like it" or "I like it very much".

The big kanji (Tag) means big.Suki) means like, as we saw above. Sodaisukiliterally means "big like"...cute, right?

Daisukican be translated as "I love you very much" or "I really like you". It's a way to really emphasize your feelings for the other person.

Again, you can add different endings for nuance and emphasis. Soyo daisukiis more feminine whiledaisuki da yoIt's a more masculine way of saying "I love you" in Japanese.

Actions speak louder than words (Don't say I love you!)

As we have already mentioned,The Japanese don't actually say "I love you" as often as other cultures.. Some English speakers end every phone call with their partner with "I love you." Something like that would be very rare in Japan.

It's not that Japanese couples love each other less than western couples... they just don't feel the need to say it out loud! In a marriage or family, your commitment to each other should be obvious.

Some people even think that declarations of love become meaningless if you say them too often.

In Japan, actions really do speak louder than words. You can show your love a thousand times each day in the small actions you take to care for your loved one.

In fact, a traditional expression used to propose marriage in Japanese is:

Ore no misoshiru wo tsukutte kurenai
You don't make me miso soup every morning
Maia doesn't make my miso soup
Do you make my miso soup every morning?

That may not sound very romantic at first glance. But remember to make a commitment to being there for your loved one every morning for the rest of their life and being taken care of by someone else and letting them participate in everyday life as well.

Author of the photo:Jeremy Wong Weddings

That being said, the miso soup line is considered a bit dated these days, and most modern Japanese girls would laugh at you for saying that! Still, it's interesting to think about the culture behind the words.

How to say "I love you too" in Japanese

Maybe your Japanese girlfriend has already confessed her love to him and now it's your turn to answer!

The easiest way to reply "I love you" in Japanese would be simplewatashi mo(yo también / yo también) means "I too"

Of course you can also use one of theseOther words for "I" in Japanese.book itÖMineralYou are more natural when you are a man.

The easiest way to say "I love you too" in Japanese is to repeat the phrase you were told, but withwatashi/boku/oremoBefore.

For example, if your partner says:

Ai shiteru yo!
I love you
I love you
i love you you know

A common way to respond with "I love you too" is:

Watashi (fem.) / boku (masc.) mo ai shiteru yo.
I love you too
I/I love you too
I love you too.

More love phrases in Japanese

Here are some more romantic phrases to express your love in Japanese!

Keep in mind that the Japanese don't express their love verbally as much as in the west. Although you may hear these love phrases in popular culture, using them too casually could make your Japanese partner uncomfortable!

Aitai

I want to see

I miss you

Aitailiterally means "I want to see you" or "I want to meet you". How to say "I miss you" in Japanese.

Koishii desu

I miss you

I long for you / I long for you

Koishimeans longing or longing. Saying this to someone means "I miss you so much" in Japanese. You can also use this in an unromantic way, for example to express your longing for your hometown or a dish from your childhood.

Anata ni muchuu desu

I'm crazy for you

I'm crazy for you

Muchuumeans crazy about, obsessed with, or completely self-absorbed. This phrase is often heard in Japanese dramas, but in everyday life it sounds a bit dramatic.

Watashi no koto suki?

do you like me

Do you love me?

Doesn't your Japanese partner say enough "I love you" for your liking? This is a cheesy way of getting an answer! If you're a boy, substituteWatashiconon the website. However, it still sounds a bit childish or playful.

Honto ni suki dayo

I really love you

I really love you

You can say "I really love you" in Japanese by adding 本当に (Really– really, really) to one of the sentences above. Another word you can add for emphasis is とても (Totem- really).totemo suki da).

but they haven't

i still like it

I still like you / I love you

Need to know how to say "I still love you" in Japanese, maybe after an argument?but they haven'tIt will calm your darling.

Itsu machte mo ai shiteru yo

I love you forever

I will Always Love You

If you're feeling super romantic, you might want to tell your partner, "I will always love you."

As with many of the other phrases on this list, it's not common to express such a strong emotion in Japanese, and you probably won't hear it outside of an extreme situation like a proposal! However, you can hear this in a drama or anime for dramatic effect.

Here are some other ways to say "I will always love you" in Japanese:

• Itsumo ai shiteru(I love you forever)
• Zutto suki yo(I love you forever)
• Watashi wa kimi wo itsumade mo ai shiteru(I will love you forever) - this is how Whitney Houston's iconic song is translated into Japanese!

Tsukiatte kudasai

please go out with me

Would you go out with me?

So you have your eye on that special someone, you've plucked up all your courage and are ready to make it yours! It's time to tell themtsukiatte kudasai. This can also be translated as 'do you want to be my girlfriend/boyfriend?' or 'do you want to date me?'

In Japanese, you would usually ask this after telling someone you like them for the first time. This is known askokuhaku(Kokuhaku/Kokuhaku), meaning "confession".kokuhakuwould go like this:

Suki desu Tsukiatte kudasai!
I like that. Please go out with me.
as. please go out with me
I like you. Would you go out with me?

Zutto issho ni itai

I want to be with you forever.

I want to be with you forever.

This romantic Japanese phrase might sound similar to a marriage proposal, so use it with care!

Kekkon mierda kudasai

Marry me.

Will you marry me?

Ready to make the ultimate commitment?Kekkon mierda kudasaiis the most common way to propose in Japanese.

FAQ about love in Japanese

Now you can say "I love you" in Japanese!

Have you ever said "I love you" in Japanese? Which saying do you prefer? Tell us in the comments!

Do you want to learn more Japanese to talk to your girlfriend or boyfriend? Our recommended language course isJapanesePod101. You will learn natural and everyday Japanese in an easy and fun way. He even has a path of 73 lessons called "Talk to your Japanese partner'!

Related posts:

• 8+ Romantic Japanese Words for Love
• How to Say Girlfriend in Japanese (5 Different Ways)
• How to say friend in Japanese

Rebecca Shiraishi-Miles

Rebecca is the founder of the Japanese team. He spent two years teaching English in Ehime, Japan. Now back in the UK, he spends his time blogging, learning Japanese on his own and discussing a veryGenkiGrandchild