好きな人がいる
sukina hito ga iru
In Japanese, "I have a crush" is said as 好きな人がいる (sukina hito ga iru).
The phrase 好きな人がいる is used to state the fact that you have romantic feelings for someone, rather than describing the specific intensity of those feelings.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "there is a person whom I like".
Which one should you use?
While 好きな人がいる describes the state of having a crush, other forms express the process of developing feelings. For example, 好きになりました means "I have started to like you", whereas the informal 好きになっちゃった means "I ended up liking you". You might also use the informal 惚れちゃった to express the feeling of falling in love among friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, the phrase 好きやねん is used to express romantic interest in a casual and playful manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase 好きな人がいる polite and suitable for speaking to acquaintances or superiors, change the verb いる to います to form 好きな人がいます.
How do you pronounce it?
sukina hito ga iru
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the most iconic way to confess a crush is through kokuhaku, a formal declaration of love. Unlike in many English-speaking cultures, this act officially marks the transition from 'having a crush' to being in a relationship.
- The concept of a 'crush' is sometimes described using the English word 'crush' written in katakana as クラッシュ, but this refers to a physical crash and is not used to describe romantic feelings.
- In romantic contexts, the word 好き is often used where English speakers would use 'love'. The word for deep love, 愛してる, is considered much heavier and is used far less frequently in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- 式子さんに対して恋心があります。I have a crush on Shikiko-san.
- 先生、僕はあなたが好きになりました。Teacher, I have a crush on you.
- もう、あなたに惚れちゃったんだ。I've fallen in love with you already.
- 実は、好きな人がいるんだ。Jitsu wa, sukina hito ga irunda.Actually, I have a crush.
- ずっと前から好きな人がいるの。Zutto mae kara sukina hito ga iru no.I've had a crush for a long time.
- 誰か好きな人がいるんですか？Dareka sukina hito ga irun desu ka?Do you have a crush on someone?
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about their love lives.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くんは、今好きな人がいるの？Ren-kun wa, ima suki na hito ga iru no?Ren, do you have a crush on someone right now?
- 蓮 Renうーん、今は特にいないかな。Uun, ima wa toku ni inai kana.Hmm, I don't think I have anyone in particular right now.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんだ。私は好きな人がいるんだよ。Sou nan da. Watashi wa suki na hito ga iru n da yo.I see. Well, I have a crush.
- 蓮 Renえっ、本当に？誰なの！Eh, hontou ni? Dare nano!What, really? Who is it!
