大好きだよ
daisuki da yofriends, casual
Between friends, Japanese speakers usually say 大好きだよ (daisuki da yo), meaning "I really like you". The stronger word 愛してる (aishiteru) is rarely used with friends. It is also called 好きだよ (suki da yo) and いつもありがとう (itsumo arigatō).
Meaning: affection between friends (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 大好きだよ | daisuki da yo | friends, casual |
| 好きだよ | suki da yo | casual |
| いつもありがとう | itsumo arigatō | warm |
大好き (daisuki) is a warm word for people and things you like a lot, so it fits close friends without sounding romantic. Adding だよ (da yo) makes it soft and casual.
Which one should you use?
好き (suki) can sound like a romantic confession depending on the context, while 大好き (daisuki) said to a close friend is usually heard as friendly affection.
When do people say it?
Japanese friends often show care by saying thanks or doing favors instead of saying "I love you" aloud. A line such as いつもありがとう (itsumo arigatō) carries a similar feeling.
Did you know?
- The famous story that Natsume Soseki told a student to translate "I love you" as 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne) is a popular legend and has no firm proof.
Examples in context
- ほんとに大好きだよ。honto ni daisuki da yo.I really do love you.
- いつもありがとう。大好き！itsumo arigatō. daisuki!Thanks for always being there. Love you!
- みんな、大好きだよ。minna, daisuki da yo.I love you all.
Example conversation
Haruka says goodbye to her best friend Mai at the station before moving to another city.
- Harukaマイ、いつもありがとう。Mai, itsumo arigatō.Mai, thank you for everything.
- Maiこちらこそ。kochira koso.Same to you.
- Haruka大好きだよ。daisuki da yo.I love you.
- Mai私も大好きだよ。watashi mo daisuki da yo.I love you too.
