愛してる
ai shiteru[a̠i ɕi̥te̞ɾɯ̟]
aishiteru is the Japanese way to say "I love you".
aishiteru is a deep expression of love used to tell someone that you love them. It is the most direct and powerful way to say "I love you" in Japanese. Because of its intense weight, it is typically reserved for profound, long-term romantic commitments or life-changing moments rather than casual dating.
Which one should you use?
While suki desu is the most common way to express affection or romantic interest, aishiteru is much heavier, more serious and used far less frequently. For a slightly more formal alternative that translates to "I really like you", you can use Daisuki desu.
How do you pronounce it?
ai shiteru
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, many people express deep love through actions or the milder suki rather than using the heavy, direct weight of aishiteru.
Did you know?
- The word for love ai was historically rare in spoken Japanese and was largely replaced by koishii or suki until Western concepts of romantic love influenced the language in the modern era.
- While English speakers use 'I love you' frequently with friends and family, saying aishiteru to a parent or sibling would be considered extremely unnatural and out of place in Japan.
- In Japanese cinema and literature, aishiteru is often used for dramatic effect in climax scenes, while real-life couples may go years without ever saying it aloud.
Examples in context
- 心から愛してる。Kokoro kara aishiteru.I love you from the bottom of my heart.
- ずっと愛してるよ。Zutto aishiteru yo.I will love you forever.
- 君のことを愛してる。Kimi no koto o aishiteru.I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is celebrating their anniversary at a quiet park.
- 陽太 Yota美咲、生まれてきてくれてありがとう。Misaki, umarete kite kurete arigatou.Misaki, thank you for being born.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、そんなこと言わないで。Youta, sonna koto iwanaide.Youta, don't say such things.
- 陽太 Yota本当だよ。愛してる。Hontou da yo. Aishiteru.I mean it. I love you.
- 美咲 Misaki私も、愛してる。Watashi mo, aishiteru.I love you, too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 愛してる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
