Which one should you use?
While aishiteru expresses deep, romantic or profound love, daisuki is a more common way to express strong affection or liking for someone in a less heavy way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a much more formal and respectful address, you can use お父様 instead of お父さん. Other formal variations include 愛しています、お父さん。 to convey love and respect, or 心から愛しています、お父さん。 for a heartfelt expression emphasizing love from the depths of the heart. For a polite way to say you hold your father dearly, use 大切に思っています、お父さん。 In informal settings, you might use 好きだよ、お父さん。 (which translates to 'I like you, father' but means 'I love you' in an informal context), お父さん、大好き！ to express strong affection in a friendly or family setting or ほんとに愛してるよ、お父さん。 to say 'I really love you, father'.
How do you pronounce it?
otousan, aishiteru
Did you know?
- The word 愛 'ai' in 愛してる was historically rare in spoken Japanese and was often reserved for literature. It was only after Western influence and the translation of foreign texts that it became a common way to express romantic or deep love.
- In Japanese culture, it is common to express love to a parent by saying ありがとう 'thank you' instead of 愛してる. Gratitude is often viewed as the most sincere and natural form of love within a family hierarchy.
- While お父さん is used to address one's own father, a person might refer to their father as 親父 'oyaji' when talking to others. 親父 carries a more gruff or casual nuance and is often used by adult sons.
Examples in context
- 本当にお父さん、愛してるよ。Hontō ni otōsan, aishiteru yo.I really love you, father.
Example conversation
A child is giving a handmade card to their father.
- 陽葵 Himariお父さん、これプレゼントです。Otōsan, kore purezento desu.Father, this is a present for you.
- 陽太 Yotaわあ、ありがとう！嬉しいよ。Wā, arigatō! Ureshii yo.Wow, thank you! I'm so happy.
- 陽葵 Himariお父さん、愛してる。Otōsan, aishiteru.I love you, father.
- 陽太 Yota私も愛してるよ、陽葵。Watashi mo aishiteru yo, Himari.I love you too, Himari.
