Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 君を愛している | kimi o ai-shite iru | |
| 愛してる | ai-shiteru | [a̠i ɕi̥te̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 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 |
In Japanese, the word for "like" (好き) is very frequently used to mean "love" in romantic contexts, often feeling more natural in daily conversation than the heavy word for "love" (愛). The phrase 愛してる expresses a deep, serious and often heavy romantic love.
Which one should you use?
愛してる (ai-shiteru) expresses a deep, serious and often heavy romantic love, whereas 好き (suki) is more commonly used for 'I like/love you' in a lighter or more frequent way. The phrase 大好きだよ。 is a casual way to say "I love you". The English phrase 'I love you' is sometimes used directly in Japanese, written in katakana as アイ・ラブ・ユー (ai-rabu-yū), often appearing in pop songs or stylized media.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Formal ways to express this sentiment include 愛しています。 and 私はあなたを愛しています, the latter specifically adding "I" at the beginning. You can also use 大好きです, which translates to "I really like you" but can be used formally to express the same intensity as "I love you". Informal versions include 愛してる, 愛してるよ。 and 大好きだよ。 One version, 俺はお前が好きだ, uses masculine and rough pronouns, making it sound very masculine and somewhat rough or blunt.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect of Japan, you can use the characteristic phrase 好きやねん to express affection. Another Kansai variation is 好いとんねん.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 愛している (ai-shite iru) uses the continuous aspect to describe a state of being in love, while the shortened 愛してる (ai-shiteru) is the more common spoken version where the 'i' is dropped.
How do you pronounce it?
kimi o ai-shite iru
When do people say it?
Japanese culture tends to be more indirect with emotions, so the phrase 愛してる is used much less frequently in real life than "I love you" is used in English. It is common to include the honorific suffix さま after a person's name in written form to show respect.
Did you know?
- In Japanese literature, the concept of 'saying nothing' to express love is a famous trope. The novelist Natsume Soseki famously suggested that a Japanese person should not say 'I love you' but instead say 'The moon is beautiful' (月が綺麗ですね) to convey deep affection.
- While English speakers say 'I love you' frequently, many Japanese parents traditionally avoid saying 愛してる to their children, expressing love through actions and care instead.
- The word 愛してる is actually a combination of the noun 愛 for 'love' and the verb する for 'to do', meaning the phrase literally describes the act of 'doing love'.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This is useful for practicing the form 愛してる.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.Tatoeba #10680320 by small_snow, translation #6133249 by carlosalberto
- あなた。大好きよ。Honey, I love you.This is useful for practicing the form 好きよ.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is having a quiet moment at sunset.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、君を愛しているよ。Yōta, kimi o aishiteiru yo.Yota, I love you.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう。俺も愛してる。Arigatō. Ore mo aishiteru.Thank you. I love you too.
- 陽葵 Himariずっと一緒にいようね。Zutto issho ni iyō ne.Let's stay together forever.
- 陽太 Yotaああ、もちろんだよ。Aa, mochiron da yo.Yeah, of course.
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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 愛してる, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
