Have you ever heard of the Japanese romantic expression aishiteru yo (愛してるよ), meaning “I love you?” We are certain J-Pop lovers have heard this expression and many other Japanese romantic words in anime, drama, and music.
But did you know that the locals rarely use these sweet words and phrases in real life? In Western cultures, couples say “I love you” in any situation. However, that’s not the case for Japan.
Today, we’ll talk about expressing love in the Japanese language. If you’re dating a Japanese person or have a close relationship with the locals, you probably already sense that Japanese people don’t express their feelings directly.
In Japanese culture, even though they feel something strongly, they tend to hide it as profoundly as possible. Therefore, you may wonder how to recognize their affection and which Japanese romantic phrases you should remember.
So let’s start by taking a short quiz to see how much you already know. Then, keep learning below!
Do You Know Any Japanese Romantic Phrases? Test Your Japanese Knowledge With This Quiz!
How Do Japanese Couples Express Love?
When it comes to romance, Japan is on another level. Even though Japanese people quickly say thank you and sorry most of the time, they become tight-lipped when saying I love you. Does that mean your Japanese partner doesn’t have feelings for you? Let’s answer that in this section.
Let’s learn a bit more about Japanese culture to answer the question. First, there is the Japanese idiom, ishin denshin (以心伝心), meaning ‘to communicate with each other without words.’ This concept is influenced by their religion.
To clarify this, it means their actions are louder than their words. So, even though your sweetheart doesn’t say ‘I love you’ that much, they express it through body language or by working hard to build a future family together.
So, to answer the question, your Japanese partner loves you! It’s just that their culture places more importance on acts of service and quality time than words.
Romantic Japanese Words Related To Relationships
Now that you know a bit about expressing feelings in Japanese culture, here are the most popular Japanese romantic words that are related to romantic or marital relationships:
| English | Japanese | Romanization | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyfriend | 彼氏 | kareshi | |
| Girlfriend | 彼女 | kanojo | |
| Husband | 夫 | otto | |
| Wife | 妻 | tsuma | |
| Love, boyfriend, girlfriend | 恋人 | koibito | |
| Single, unmarried | 独身 | dokushin | |
| Married couple | 夫婦 | Fūfu | |
| Newly married | 新婚 | shinkon | |
| Love | 愛 | ai | |
| Love (passionate love) | 恋 | koi | |
| Like | 好き | suki | |
| First love | 初恋 | hatsukoi | |
| Fall in love | 恋する | koisuru | |
| Happiness | 幸せ | shiawase | |
| Marriage | 結婚 | kekkon | |
| Divorce | 離婚 | rikon | |
| Break up | 別れる | wakareru |
Asking Someone On A Date In Japanese
Have you ever watched a scene that makes your heart beat faster in an anime? Japanese high school students commonly write a love letter and hand it to their crush. They use these phrases:
- Please go out with me (polite) – Tsukiatte kudasai (付き合ってください).
- Can you go out with me? (polite) – Tsukiatte kuremasenka (付き合ってくれませんか?)
Japanese dating culture is different from Western cultures, where people start dating and later officially become a couple. In contrast, Japanese people prefer to make it unmistakable before they move on to the next step.
I Love You In Japanese
Japanese people frequently say daisuki (大好き), which is softer than aishiteru yo (愛してるよ), but note that softer doesn’t mean weaker feelings. Here are some ways to say “I love you” in Japanese:
- I like you – Suki desu (好きです).
- I love you – Daisuki da yo (大好きだよ).
- I love you – Aishiteru yo (愛してるよ).
- You’re the only one I love – Anata dake wo aishiteruyo (あなただけを愛してるよ).
There are other phrases in which the word ‘love’ isn’t in the sentence, but still represent the exact romantic definition. Here are Japanese phrases that contain romantic feelings without the word ‘love’:
- I like being with you – Anata to isshoniirunogasuki (あなたと一緒にるのが好き).
- I want to stay by your side forever – Zutto soba niitai (ずっとそばに居たい).
- Let’s stay together forever – Zutto zutto issho ni iyou ne (ずっとずっと一緒に居ようね).
- I want to be with you – Issho ni itai (一緒にいたい).
Have you ever watched the romantic Japanese movie When I Get Home, My Wife Always Pretends To Be Dead?
The crazy storyline is about one Japanese salaryman who gets home and discovers his wife pretends to be dead in considerable creative ways every day. One day, his wife picks him up from a random restaurant after work, and she stops the car on the way to look at the moon. Then she says this: Tsuki ga kirei desu ne? (月が綺麗ですね) which means, “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”.
He doesn’t realize until he finds an old book that belongs to his wife. This phrase is mentioned in the book as a traditional Japanese quote meaning I love you.
I Miss You In Japanese
Now, here’s how to say “I miss you” in Japanese:
- Miss you (I want to see you) – Aitai (会いたい).
- I miss you – Anata ni aitai desu (あなたに会いたい).
One point for you to keep in mind: be careful not to use aitai (会いたい) too often, because Japanese people take this phrase thoughtfully.
For example, you and your sweetheart live in a different country. If you say this daily, they will get irritated and think you don’t understand the situation. Even though you don’t mean that you want to see them right then or now, they bear it that way.
Will You Marry Me In Japanese
The Japanese word for marriage is kekkon (結婚), and it’s a direct way to ask someone to build a family together.
If you have been dating your Japanese loved one for a while, and they finally invite you to visit their parents, you should be happy, because taking someone to see their parents is big for Japanese people. It literally means they’re serious about stepping forward with you.
Here’s how to ask “Will you marry me” in Japanese:
- Will you marry me (polite) – Kekkon shite kudasai (結婚してください).
- Let’s get married – Kekkonshi mashou (結婚しましょう).
How Do You Say “Romantic Words” In Japanese?
The phrase “Romantic words” in Japanese is ren’ai no kotoba (恋愛の言葉). Where
- ren’ai (恋愛 – れんあい) means ‘romance,’ ‘love.’
- no (の) is a particle indicating possession or connection.
- kotoba (言葉 -ことば) means ‘words,’ ‘language.’
So, ren’ai no kotoba (恋愛の言葉) means “words of love” or “romantic words.”
Other Romantic Phrases In Japanese
Want to learn more? Here are some more romantic Japanese phrases:
| English | Japanese | Romaji | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| You’re my type | あなたがタイプです | Anata ga taipudesu | |
| I fell in love at first sight | 一目惚れしました | Hitomebore shimashita | |
| Can I hug you? | 抱きしめてもいい？ | Dakishimete mo ii? | |
| I want to kiss you | キスしたい | Kisu shitai | |
| We’re a couple | カップルです | Kappuru desu | |
| Let’s go date | デートに行こう | Deeto ni ikou | |
| Let’s go travel (literally “let’s go date”) | 旅行に行こう | Ryoko ni ikou | |
| Let’s hold hands | 手をつなごう | Te wo tsunagou |
Tips To Express Your Love In Japanese
Need some help? Here are a few tips for expressing your feelings in Japanese:
1. Use Soft Expressions: Japanese culture values subtlety, so instead of directly saying “I love you,” try softer expressions.
- “I really like you” or “I love you” – Daisuki da yo (大好きだよ): A less intense version
- “I want to stay by your side forever” – Zutto soba ni itai (ずっとそばにいたい): Expresses commitment without being overly direct.
2. Cultural Gestures Matter: In Japan, actions often speak louder than words. Showing affection through thoughtful actions, like cooking together, doing small favors, or simply spending quality time, will convey your love.
3. Use Affectionate Nicknames:
- Kareshi (彼氏): Boyfriend
- Kanojo (彼女): Girlfriend.
Also, sweet terms like Dārin (ダーリン) or Hanī (ハニー) (borrowed from English) are commonly used as pet names for loved ones.
4. Use Romantic Phrases:
- “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” – Tsuki ga kirei desu ne? (月が綺麗ですね): A traditional poetic way to express love indirectly.
- “I want to be with you” – Issho ni itai (一緒にいたい): Expresses desire to stay together in a simple, heartfelt way.
5. Silent Affection: In Japan, silence can be just as meaningful as words. Sometimes, sharing a quiet moment, holding hands, or simply being in each other’s presence speaks volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most Romantic Thing To Say In Japanese?
One of the most romantic phrases in Japanese is Aishiteru (愛してる), which means “I love you.” It’s a deep, meaningful declaration often used in serious relationships.
How Do Japanese People Call Their Lover?
In Japan, lovers commonly use terms like Kareshi (彼氏) for boyfriend and Kanojo (彼女) for girlfriend. Some people also use more affectionate terms like Dārin (ダーリン) or Hanī (ハニー), which are borrowed from English (‘Darling’ and ‘Honey’).
Does Suki Mean Love?
Suki (好き) means “like” or “fond of,” and it’s often used in romantic contexts, but it’s not as strong as Aishiteru (愛してる). It can be used to say you “like” someone romantically, but it doesn’t have the same deep meaning as “love.”
What Is The Japanese Style Of Flirting?
Japanese flirting is often subtle and less direct than in other cultures. It can include things like playful teasing, shy gestures, or using polite language. In some cases, people might show their interest through actions rather than words, like giving thoughtful gifts or offering help.
To Conclude Romantic Phrases In Japanese
Trying to speak Japanese has always been challenging. And when it comes to romantic relationship conversations, it can be more complicated than we ever imagined. Since Japanese people are generally sensitive to their surroundings, they’re serious with phrases like aishiteru yo (愛してるよ) or, “I love you”
In this post, we went over some basic Japanese romantic words, phrases to ask someone out on a date, how to say “I love you,” “I miss you,” and “Will you marry me?”, and more phrases plus some dating tips.
So, the next chance you spend time with your Japanese sweetheart, don’t forget to show your profound love with any of the Japanese romantic words you have learned here.
And if you haven’t caught your person’s heart yet, maybe read our flirting in Japanese article to learn romantic flirting phrases and steal hearts!
Learn The Japanese Language With Ling!
Learning Japanese isn’t just about speaking the words; it’s about deepening your bond with your partner and becoming part of their world.
With Ling, you’ll gain the confidence to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with your partner’s family, and show your dedication to embracing their culture. Ling’s culturally appropriate phrases and colloquial expressions will help you navigate family gatherings smoothly and naturally.
By learning your special someone’s native language, you show your love and respect in ways that words alone can’t express.
So start learning Japanese with the Ling app today and create a stronger, more heartfelt connection.
