ダーリン
dārin[da̠ːɾʲĩɴ]rare
The English word darling can be translated into Japanese as ダーリン (dārin). If unsure, use ダーリン. Wiktionary also lists 愛すべき (aisubeki) and ハニー (hanī).
Meaning: often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ダーリン | dārin | [da̠ːɾʲĩɴ] (narrow) | rare |
| 愛すべき | aisubeki | ||
| ハニー | hanī | [ha̠ɲ̟iː] (narrow) | rare |
| スイートハート | swītohāto | rare |
In Japanese, the term ダーリン is a loanword from English. It is an affectionate term of address used among couples, though it is primarily found in pop culture, songs or by people attempting to sound playful or Westernized.
Which one should you use?
While ダーリン is a direct loanword used as a term of address, 愛すべき is an adjective meaning 'lovable' or 'to be loved' and is not typically used as a direct noun to address a person.
How do you pronounce it?
dārin
When do people say it?
The katakana form ダーリン is a loanword from English and is used primarily in pop culture, songs or by people attempting to sound Westernized/playful.
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, couples rarely use names or titles like 'darling' to address each other, preferring instead to use the person's name or no title at all.
- The first recorded use of the katakana ダーリン dates back to 1914, showing how long English romantic terms have been integrated into Japanese writing systems.
- Japanese lacks a single native word that functions exactly like 'darling' because the language historically prioritizes social hierarchy over individual affection in address.
Examples in context
- 何をしているの、ダーリン？What are you doing, darling?This sentence is useful for seeing how ダーリン is used in a question.Tatoeba #13115759 by atitarev, translation #4889833 by warrenbisch
- ダーリン、大好きだよ。Dārin, daisuki da yo.Darling, I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 蓮 Ren今日の夕飯はどうする、ダーリン？kyō no yūhan wa dō suru, dārin?What shall we do for dinner tonight, darling?
- 陽葵 Himariうーん、イタリアンがいいかな。ūn, itarian ga ii kana.Hmm, maybe Italian?
- 蓮 Renいい考えだね。予約しておくよ。ii kangae dane. yoyaku shite oku yo.That's a great idea. I'll make a reservation.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、蓮！arigatō, Ren!Thank you, Ren!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “darling” translations and entries ダーリン, ハニー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ダーリン, ハニー, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
