Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 愛してる | ai-shiteru | [a̠i ɕi̥te̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 君を愛している | kimi o ai-shite iru | |
| 俺はお前のことが好きだ | ore wa omae no koto ga suki da | |
| 俺はお前が好きだ | ore wa omae ga suki da | |
| 好きよ | suki yo | |
| 私はあなたが好きだ | watashi wa anata ga suki da | |
| アイ・ラブ・ユー | ai-rabu-yū | [a̠i ɾa̠bɯ̟ jɯ̟ː] (narrow) |
| 好きやねん | sukiyanen |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings. Japanese speakers often use the word 好き (suki) to confess romantic feelings, as it feels more natural and less heavy than the literal translation of "love".
Which one should you use?
The phrase 愛してる expresses a deep, serious and often heavy romantic love. In contrast, forms containing 好き are more commonly used to say "I like you" or "I love you" in a lighter, less intense sense. The form アイ・ラブ・ユー is a loanword, representing the phonetic transcription of the English phrase "I love you" into Japanese katakana, which is often seen in pop culture or songs.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 俺はお前が好きだ uses the pronouns 俺 (ore) and お前 (omae), making it a very masculine and informal way to express affection, typically used by men in casual or rougher speech. The form 好きよ uses the particle よ at the end to add a soft, assertive nuance often associated with feminine speech in certain contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, such as Osaka, you may hear 好きやねん to express affection.
How do you pronounce it?
ai-shiteru
When do people say it?
Japanese culture often favors subtlety. Saying 愛してる is a very significant and dramatic declaration that is used much less frequently than in English-speaking cultures.
Did you know?
- Japanese people often use the word 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), meaning 'the moon is beautiful, isn't it', as a poetic and indirect way to say 'i love you'.
- Confessing love in Japan is often a formal event called 告白 (kokuhaku), where one person explicitly tells the other their feelings to officially start a relationship.
- Because 愛してる is so heavy and dramatic, many Japanese couples may go their entire lives without ever saying it aloud.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This sentence uses 愛してる to show a direct declaration of love.Tatoeba #8736627 by small_snow, translation #9234969 by kedymera
- 心から愛してるよ。I love you from the bottom of my heart.This sentence uses 愛してる to express deep, sincere affection.Tatoeba #10680320 by small_snow, translation #6133249 by carlosalberto
- あなた。大好きよ。Honey, I love you.This sentence uses 好きよ to show a soft, affectionate way of addressing a partner.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 私はあなたを愛しています。I love you
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet evening at a park while watching the sunset.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、ずっと前から愛してる。Himari, zutto mae kara aishiteru.Himari, I have loved you for a long time.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さん、私も愛してるよ。Hiroto-san, watashi mo aishiteru yo.Hiroto, I love you too.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に？すごく嬉しいよ。Honto ni? Sugoku ureshii yo.Really? I am so happy.
- 陽葵 Himari嘘じゃないよ、心から。Uso janai yo, kokoro kara.I'm not lying, from the bottom of my heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries 愛してる, アイ・ラブ・ユー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
