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 |
This phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings. Depending on the form used, the sentiment can range from a heavy, serious declaration of deep romantic love to a lighter expression of affection.
Which one should you use?
愛してる is a heavy and serious expression of romantic love. The loanword アイ・ラブ・ユー is used in pop culture, songs or to add a sense of lightness or Western flair to the sentiment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
愛してる is an informal and direct way to say I love you. For formal or polite situations, you can use 愛しています。 or 大好きです, the latter of which conveys a deep level of affection and love even in a formal context. 好きだよ。 is an informal expression that translates to "I like you" but carries the meaning of love in an informal context. 君が大好き。 is also informal and is typically used among young couples or close friends. Masculine, informal or rougher speech can be achieved using 俺はお前が好きだ or 俺はお前のことが好きだ, which utilize the pronouns 俺 (ore) and お前 (omae).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, such as the Osaka or Kyoto areas, characteristic ways to express affection include 好いとんねん and 好きやねん.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form 君を愛している, the particle を (o) marks the object of the affection. Conversely, forms using 好き often use the particle が (ga), as seen in 私はあなたが好きだ.
How do you pronounce it?
ai-shiteru
Did you know?
- In Japanese literature and film, many couples go their entire lives without ever saying 愛してる to one another. The sentiment is often conveyed through shared actions or silence rather than verbal declarations.
- The word 愛 (ai) in 愛してる was historically used more for the love of a deity or a parent than for romantic partners.
- Because the verb する (suru) means 'to do', the phrase 愛してる can be seen as 'doing love' or 'carrying out the act of loving'. This gives the word a sense of active, continuous emotion.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This sentence shows how to use 愛してる to address someone by name.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, heartfelt love.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 affection.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 先輩、心から愛しています。Senior, I love you from the bottom of my heart.
- 社長、大好きです。Boss, I like you very much.
- あなたが大好き！I love you!
- 友達だけど、本当に愛してるよ。We're friends, but I really love you.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a park at sunset.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、ずっと前から愛してる。Hiroto, zutto mae kara aishiteru.Hiroto, I have loved you for a long time.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に？僕も愛してるよ、陽葵。Honto ni? Boku mo aishiteru yo, Himari.Really? I love you too, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himari嬉しい。本当に幸せ。Ureshii. Honto ni shiawase.I'm so happy. I'm truly happy.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕もだよ。Boku mo da yo.Me too.
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.
