月が綺麗ですね
tsuki ga kirei desu nepoetic, indirect
A poetic way to say "I love you" in Japanese is 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), "the moon is beautiful, isn't it". It hints at love without saying it. It is also called 死んでもいいわ (shinde mo ii wa).
Meaning: poetic expression of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 月が綺麗ですね | tsuki ga kirei desu ne | poetic, indirect |
| 死んでもいいわ | shinde mo ii wa | poetic, literary reply |
People use these lines in letters, songs and jokes. They are not part of everyday love talk, and some listeners will not catch the hint.
Which one should you use?
A plain statement is 好きです (suki desu), "I like you", which is the normal way to confess in Japan.
When do people say it?
A story links this line to the writer Natsume Soseki. A matching reply, 死んでもいいわ (shinde mo ii wa), "I could die happily", is linked to the translator Futabatei Shimei, who is said to have used it for a Russian line meaning "I am yours". The stories are well known, but their details are uncertain.
Did you know?
- The kanji 綺麗 (kirei) in this phrase is often written きれい in hiragana, and the meaning is the same.
Examples in context
- 月が綺麗ですね。Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful, isn't it?
- 死んでもいいわ。Shinde mo ii wa.I could die happily.
- 好きです。付き合ってください。Suki desu. Tsukiatte kudasai.I like you. Please go out with me.
Example conversation
Sora and Hinata sit on a hill under the night sky.
- Sora今夜は月が綺麗ですね。Konya wa tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful tonight.
- Hinataそれは告白ですか。Sore wa kokuhaku desu ka.Is that a confession?
- Soraはい、そうです。Hai, sou desu.Yes, it is.
