How to say I love you in Japanese (and more!)
Love words in Japanese–Common ways of expressing one’s love and other fun stuff.
LOVE
in Japanese
If you are wanting to express your love in Japanese, you’ve come to right place.
You may have heard the word for love, ai, isn’t used as much as its counterpart in English. This is probably true. Here is “I love you,” but remember to only use it when you really mean it.
愛しています。
ai shite imasu.
I love you.
Instead of the above, you are more likely to hear:
あなたが好きです。
anata ga suki desu.
I like you.
Use this even when in English many people may use the “love” word.
Sometimes you have to coax it out of your love-hopeful. Try this:
私のことが好きですか？
watashi no koto ga suki desu ka?
Do you like me?
And when you want to say you like… anything:
～が好きです。
~ga suki desu.
I like…
Just replace the ~ with some noun. Ex. neko ga suki desu. “I like cats.”
If someone asks you why you are doing what you are doing (and you feel adventurous):
愛しているから。
ai shiteiru kara.
Because I love you.
Get down on your knees and practice saying:
結婚しませんか？
kekkon shimasen ka?
Will you marry me?
And here are a few related words:
一目ぼれ
hito me bore
Love at first sight.
相合傘
ai ai gasa
Sharing an umbrella.
[Interestingly, neither of the ai‘s here are the “love” ai. The “gasa” is a phonetic change from umbrella “kasa.”]
恋人
koibito
sweetheart; lover
片思い
kata omoi
unrequited love; one-sided love; to carry a torch for
And of course, everyone’s favorite:
三角関係
sankaku kankei
Love triangle
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