おやすみ、愛してる
oyasumi, aishiteru
The English phrase "good night I love you" is translated into Japanese as おやすみ、愛してる (oyasumi, aishiteru).
This phrase is used to say goodbye and express affection to a partner or loved one before sleeping. It is a highly intimate expression typically reserved for romantic partners or very close family members.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase おやすみ、愛してる is the standard form. For a more polite or formal tone, you can use おやすみなさい、愛しています or おやすみなさい、心から愛しています. However, these polite versions are rarely used in intimate romantic settings. Informal variations include adding particles at the end, such as おやすみ、愛してるよ or おやすみ、愛してるわ.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 愛してる, the subject "I" and the object "you" are omitted, which is standard and natural in Japanese. For reference, the pronoun わたしは means "I".
How do you pronounce it?
oyasumi, aishiteru
Did you know?
- The word おやすみ is actually a shortened version of a phrase meaning 'please let me rest', reflecting a cultural history of asking for permission to sleep.
- In Japan, saying 愛してる (ai shiteru) is considered a very heavy and weighty expression. Many Japanese people go their entire lives without using it, preferring more subtle ways to show affection.
- Japanese has several different words for 'love', and 愛 in 愛してる refers to a selfless, giving love, whereas 恋 refers to a passionate, longing love.
Examples in context
- おやすみ、愛してるよ。Oyasumi, aishiteru yo.Good night, I love you (with emphasis/warmth).
- やっと寝るね。おやすみ、愛してる。Yatto neru ne. Oyasumi, aishiteru.I'm finally going to sleep. Good night, I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye over a video call before going to sleep.
- 陽葵 Himari健太、もう寝るね。Kenta, mou neru ne.Kenta, I'm going to sleep now.
- 健太 Kentaわかった。おやすみ、陽葵。Wakatta. Oyasumi, Himari.Understood. Good night, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariおやすみ、愛してる。Oyasumi, aishiteru.Good night, I love you.
- 健太 Kenta俺も、愛してるよ。Ore mo, aishiteru yo.I love you too.
