月が綺麗ですね
tsuki ga kirei desu neindirect, literary
A well-known indirect way is 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), "the moon is beautiful, isn't it". Other gentle options are ずっと一緒にいたい (zutto issho ni itai), "I want to be with you always". It is also called あなたが大切です (anata ga taisetsu desu).
Meaning: indirect expression of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 月が綺麗ですね | tsuki ga kirei desu ne | indirect, literary |
| ずっと一緒にいたい | zutto issho ni itai | warm, romantic |
| あなたが大切です | anata ga taisetsu desu | polite, romantic |
あなたが大切です (anata ga taisetsu desu) means "you are important to me" and is a way to show deep feelings without the word 好き (suki).
When do people say it?
The moon line is popularly said to come from the writer Natsume Soseki, who supposedly told a student to translate "I love you" this way. The story is a popular legend, and there is no firm proof of it.
Did you know?
- The legendary reply to the moon line is 死んでもいいわ (shinde mo ii wa), a line also credited to the same legend, from a translation of Turgenev.
Examples in context
- ずっと一緒にいたいな。Zutto issho ni itai na.I want to be with you always.
Example conversation
Ryo and Haru look at the night sky together.
- Ryoハル、見て。Haru, mite.Haru, look.
- Ryo月が綺麗ですね。Tsuki ga kirei desu ne.The moon is beautiful.
- Haru死んでもいいわ。Shinde mo ii wa.I could die happy.
