i-love-you-in-japanese

77 Ways to Say “I Love You” in Japanese Like a Native Speaker

Japanese is a beautiful language—and one of the reasons why is because there are numerous ways to say “I love you” in Japanese.

Some phrases will score you a flattered Japanese 彼女 (かのじょ, girlfriend), while others should be reserved strictly for marriage.

In this blog post, you’ll learn 77 ways to say “I love you” in Japanese for every scenario—whether you’re preparing to ask your Japanese crush out for the first time or about to get down on one knee.

Contents

How to Say “I Love You” to Romantic Partners

How do I love you? Let me count the ways!

In Japanese, the most heartfelt way to tell someone that you love them is actually by telling them that you like them! Literally, 大好き (だいすき) means to like something. You can even use it to talk about the objects you love, like food, games, sports, art, music, etc.

But when you say it to someone who you truly love in a romantic way, it’s a way of expressing your deep love for them.

That’s why, even if we may say “I really like you” to platonic friends in the West, this isn’t the case in Japan.

There are many other ways to say “I love you,” with various degrees of formality and extremities:

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish meaning
好きです すきですSuki desuI like you/I love you (general expression)
大好きです だいすきですDaisuki desuI really like you/I love you (general expression)
大好きだ だいすきだDai suki daI love you (literally: I really like you)
大好きよ だいすきよDai suki yoI love you (feminine, literally: I really like you)
大好きだよ だいすきだよDai suki da yoI love you (masculine, literally: I really like you)
愛しています あいしていますAishiteimasuI love you (formal expression)
愛してるよ あいしてるよAishiteru yoI love you (casual expression)
好きやねん! すき や ねん!Suki ya nenI like ya! (Osaka dialect)
あなたに夢中です あなた に むちゅう ですAnata ni muchū desuI'm crazy about you
心から愛しています こころからあいしていますKokoro kara aishiteimasuI love you from the bottom of my heart
あなたが好きです あなたがすきですAnata ga suki desuI like/love you (directed towards "you")
恋しています こいしていますKoishiteimasuI'm in love with you
愛していると伝えたい あいしているとつたえたいAishite iru to tsutaetaiI want to convey that I love you
あなたに夢中 あなたにむちゅうAnata ni muchuuI'm captivated by you
君がいて幸せ きみがいてしあわせKimi ga ite shiawaseI'm happy when you're around
惚れ直した ほれなおしたHorenaoshitaI fell in love with you all over again
あなたとなら何でもできる あなたとならなんでもできるAnata to nara nandemo dekiruI can do anything as long as I'm with you
永遠に愛し続ける えいえんにあいしつづけるEien ni aishi tsuzukeruI will continue to love you forever
好きになってくれてありがとう すきになってくれてありがとうSuki ni natte kurete arigatouThank you for falling in love with me
君のことを愛してる きみのことをあいしてるKimi no koto o aishiteruI love you (emphasizing "you")
ずっと一緒にいたい ずっといっしょにいたいZutto issho ni itaiI want to be with you forever

How to Say “I Love You” and “I Like You” to Friends and Family

So if you can’t tell your friends and family that you like them, how can you express your love for them?

In many cases, you don’t use words. The best way to show your friends that you love them is to, well, show them. You might do something nice for your mom to show her your appreciation or take your best friend out shopping to show him that you care.

But if you still want to put your feelings in words, you can use these neutral, platonic expressions of affection:

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish meaning
ずっと友達だね ずっとともだちだねZutto tomodachi da neWe'll be friends forever, right?
君と一緒で幸せ きみといっしょでしあわせKimi to issho de shiawaseI'm happy when I'm with you
いつもありがとう いつもありがとうItsumo arigatouThank you always
信頼してるよ しんらいしてるよShinrai shiteru yoI trust you
いつもそばにいてくれてありがとう いつもそばにいてくれてありがとうItsumo soba ni ite kurete arigatouThank you for always being by my side
君がいてくれて幸せ きみがいてくれてしあわせKimi ga ite kurete shiawaseI'm happy because you're here with me
ありがとうの気持ちを伝えたい ありがとうのきもちをつたえたいArigatou no kimochi o tsutaetaiI want to express my gratitude
いつも支えてくれてありがとう いつもささえてくれてありがとうItsumo sasaete kurete arigatouThank you for always supporting me
ずっと仲良しでいようね ずっとなかよしでいようねZutto nakayoshi de iyou neLet's be close friends forever, okay?
僕は君のことが大好きだ ぼくはきみのことがだいすきだBoku wa kimi no koto ga daisuki daI really like you (friendly expression)
家族の一員だよ かぞくのいちいんだよKazoku no ichiin da yoYou are part of the family
ずっと応援してるよ ずっとおうえんしてるよZutto ouen shiteru yoI'll always support you
君と過ごす時間が大切だ きみとすごすじかんがたいせつだKimi to sugosu jikan ga taisetsu daThe time I spend with you is precious
いつも、ありがとう いつも、ありがとうItsumo, ArigatouThank you, always
好感を持っています こうかんをもっていますKoukan o motteimasuI have a favorable impression of you
興味がある きょうみがあるKyōmi ga aruI'm interested in you
大いに好意を抱いています おおいにこういをいだいていますŌini kōi o idaiteimasuI have great affection for you

How to Say “Will You Marry Me?” in Japanese

When you’re ready to tie the knot with your Japanese-speaking sweetheart, you can use one of these phrases:

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish meaning
結婚してください けっこん して くださいKekkon shite kudasaiPlease marry me
一緒に結婚しよう いっしょにけっこんしようIssho ni kekkon shiyouLet's get married together
私と結婚してください わたしとけっこんしてくださいWatashi to kekkon shite kudasaiPlease marry me (using "watashi," meaning "me")
結婚してくれませんか けっこんしてくれませんかKekkon shite kuremasen kaWill you marry me?
一生を共にしませんか いっしょうをともにしませんかIsshou o tomo ni shimasen kaWill you spend your life with me?
一緒に未来を歩みましょう いっしょにみらいをあゆみましょうIssho ni mirai o ayumimashouLet's walk into the future together
君と結ばれたい きみとむすばれたいKimi to musubare taiI want to be bound with you
この先も一緒にいてほしい このさきもいっしょにいてほしいKono saki mo issho ni ite hoshiiI want to be with you in the future too
一生を共に過ごしませんか いっしょうをともにすごしませんかIsshou o tomo ni sugoshimasen kaWill you spend your life with me?
君とずっと一緒にいたい きみとずっといっしょにいたいKimi to zutto issho ni itaiI want to be with you forever

Romantic Phrases in Japanese

Sweet talk your sweetheart with some beautiful, romantic Japanese phrases:

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish meaning
君はとても美しい きみはとてもうつくしいKimi wa totemo utsukushiiYou are very beautiful
心と心が通じる こころとこころがつうじるKokoro to kokoro ga tsūjiruOur hearts connect
君の微笑みに癒される きみのほほえみにいやされるKimi no hohoemi ni iyasareruYour smile heals me
君のことが頭から離れない きみのことがあたまからはなれないKimi no koto ga atama kara hanarenaiI can't get you out of my mind
二人ならどんな困難も乗り越えられる ふたりならどんなこんなんものりこえられるFutari nara donna konnan mo norikoerareruTogether, we can overcome any difficulty
君とならどこでも行きたい きみとならどこでもいきたいKimi to nara doko demo ikitaiI want to go anywhere with you
君がいるから私は強い きみがいるからわたしはつよいKimi ga iru kara watashi wa tsuyoiI am strong because you are here
君と過ごす時間は幸せ きみとすごすじかんはしあわせKimi to sugosu jikan wa shiawaseThe time spent with you is happiness
君と出会えてよかった きみとであえてよかったKimi to deaete yokattaI'm glad I met you
君と一緒にいると安心する きみといっしょにいるとあんしんするKimi to issho ni iru to anshin suruI feel at ease when I'm with you
君の愛に溺れたい きみのあいにおぼれたいKimi no ai ni oboretaiI want to drown in your love
君との未来を夢見ている きみとのみらいをゆめみているKimi to no mirai o yume mite iruI dream of a future with you
君を思うと胸がいっぱいになる きみをおもうとむねがいっぱいになるKimi o omou to mune ga ippai ni naruMy heart fills up when I think of you

Japanese Love Quotes

Love is a popular topic in books, poems, movies and every other artistic human expression. Of course, this means that Japanese literature and film is chock-full of swoon-worthy love quotes. Impress your beloved by using one of these beautiful quotes about love:

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish meaningSource
愛しているのは、君だけだ。 あいしているのは、きみだけだ。Aishiteiru no wa, kimi dake da.I only love you.Movie: "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World"
君がいてくれて、幸せだ。 きみがいてくれて、しあわせだ。Kimi ga ite kurete, shiawase da.I'm happy because you're here.Movie: "Love Letter"
愛とは相手の幸せを願うこと。 あいとはあいてのしあわせをねがうこと。Ai to wa aite no shiawase o negau koto.Love is wishing for the happiness of the other person.Book: "Kokoro" by Natsume Sōseki
君を思うことが、私の喜び。 きみをおもうことが、わたしのよろこび。Kimi o omou koto ga, watashi no yorokobi.Thinking of you brings me joy.Song: "Ai no Uta" by Fukuyama Masaharu
愛は時空を超える。 あいはじくうをこえる。Ai wa jikū o koeru.Love transcends time and space.Movie: "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time"
君がいなければ、生きていく意味がない。 きみがいなければ、いきていくいみがない。Kimi ga inakereba, ikite iku imi ga nai.Without you, there is no meaning in living.Movie: "1 Litre of Tears"
愛は優しさと勇気。 あいはやさしさとゆうき。Ai wa yasashisa to yūki.Love is kindness and courage.Anime: "Cardcaptor Sakura"
君の笑顔が僕の全てだ。 きみのえがおがぼくのすべてだ。Kimi no egao ga boku no subete da.Your smile is everything to me.Movie: "Kimi no Na wa" (Your Name)
愛することの意味は、相手の幸せを願うこと。 あいすることのいみは、あいてのしあわせをねがうこと。Ai suru koto no imi wa, aite no shiawase o negau koto.The meaning of love is to wish for the happiness of the other person.Book: "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami
君とならどんな未来でも怖くない。 きみとならどんなみらいでもこわくない。Kimi to nara donna mirai demo kowakunai.I'm not afraid of any future as long as I'm with you.Movie: "The Garden of Words"
君と過ごす時間は、いつも輝いている。 きみとすごすじかんは、いつもかがやいている。Kimi to sugosu jikan wa, itsumo kagayaite iru.The time spent with you always shines brightly.Song: "Planetarium" by Ai Otsuka
君とならどんな困難も乗り越えられる。 きみとならどんなこんなんものりこえられる。Kimi to nara donna konnan mo norikoerareru.With you, I can overcome any difficulty.Movie: "Nodame Cantabile"
愛しい人のためなら、何でもできる。 いとしいひとのためなら、なんでもできる。Itoshii hito no tame nara, nandemo dekiru.For the one I love, I can do anything.Song: "Yuki no Hana" by Mika Nakashima
君との出会いは奇跡だった。 きみとのであいはきせきだった。Kimi to no deai wa kiseki datta.Meeting you was a miracle.Drama: "1 Litre of Tears"
愛していることを伝えるために言葉は必要ない。 あいしていることをつたえるためにことばはひつようない。Aishite iru koto o tsutaeru tame ni kotoba wa hitsuyou nai.Words are not necessary to express "I love you."Song: "Koi" by Gen Hoshino

Japanese Love Songs

If you’re looking for even more beautiful expressions of love, you’ll find them in these Japanese love songs. From the tender touch of first love to remembering a past love, take your pick from the options below to suit whatever kind of romantic mood you’re in.

Saying “I Love You” in Japanese Culture

In the West—especially the United States—it’s very easy to throw the term “I love you” or “I like you” every which way. We tell our friends, romantic partners, pets and family members we love them. As I mentioned earlier in the post, this is different in Japan.

Many married couples will probably tell you that they’ve never been told “I love you” by their partner. This isn’t to say Japanese people are cold and unloving, quite the contrary: Japanese couples merely use the “show, don’t tell” rule.

Married or dating couples in Japan opt to show their partners love through acts of service and loyalty rather than just telling them.

However, you’ll find that younger Japanese people say “I love you” more often than married couples. And in general, it’s rare to use such an expression among friends and family.

Because saying “I love you” in Japanese is so contextual and deeply rooted in culture, it will come more naturally to you by immersing yourself in it.

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Of course, you can do this by booking a trip to Japan. But thanks to technology, it’s now more than possible to experience Japanese immersion from home, whether through language exchanges with Japanese friends or online language learning immersion programs like FluentU.

 

Love might be rare to express, but knowing how to say “I love you” in Japanese is bound to come in handy—whether when meeting your soulmate in Tokyo or binge-watching your favorite Japanese drama.

And One More Thing...

If you love learning Japanese with authentic materials, then I should also tell you more about FluentU.

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