つきがきれいですね
tsuki ga kirei desu neindirect, romantic
A well-known indirect way to say "I love you" in Japanese is つきがきれいですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), which literally means the moon is beautiful, isn't it? It is also called ずっといっしょにいたい (zutto issho ni itai).
Meaning: saying I love you in a subtle way (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| つきがきれいですね | tsuki ga kirei desu ne | indirect, romantic |
| ずっといっしょにいたい | zutto issho ni itai | indirect, I want to be together always |
It is said in a quiet moment as a gentle hint. The listener may answer in kind, for example ええ、きれいですね (ē, kirei desu ne), to show they understood.
Which one should you use?
Saying あいしてる (aishiteru) directly is quite heavy in everyday Japanese, so hints like these are common in stories and among shy speakers.
When do people say it?
A popular story says the novelist Natsume Sōseki once told a student to translate "I love you" this way, but there is no solid proof, so treat it as a legend.
Did you know?
- The phrase つきがきれいですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne) is often linked to the writer Natsume Sōseki, though the story is unconfirmed.
Examples in context
- つきがきれいですね。Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful, isn't it?
- ずっといっしょにいたい。Zutto issho ni itai.I want to be together always.
- あなたといるとおちつきます。Anata to iru to ochitsukimasu.I feel calm when I am with you.
Example conversation
Sota and Haruna walk home at night after a festival in Kamakura.
- Sotaハルナ、みて。つきがきれいですね。Haruna, mite. Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.Haruna, look. The moon is beautiful.
- Harunaええ、ほんとうにきれいですね。Ē, hontō ni kirei desu ne.Yes, it is really beautiful.
- Sotaこれからもいっしょにみたいな。Kore kara mo issho ni mitai na.I would like to keep watching it together.
