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 |
The phrase is used to affirm romantic feelings. In Japanese culture, the expression of love is often more subtle than in English. While English speakers use 'I love you' frequently, the Japanese expression 愛してる is used much less frequently in daily life and is often reserved for highly significant or dramatic moments.
Which one should you use?
There is a significant distinction between the intensity of the words used. The form 愛してる is much more intense and heavy, typically reserved for deep, serious romantic commitment. While these are often translated as 'I love you' in English, they literally mean 'I like you' or 'I really like you'. The loanword アイ・ラブ・ユー is a katakana transcription of the English phrase used to add a modern or Westernized feel, often found in pop culture or song lyrics.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality varies greatly across the available forms. For formal settings, you can use 愛しています or 大好きです to convey deep affection and fondness. For informal situations, 愛してる and 好きだよ are common. Some forms are highly gendered or casual, such as 俺はお前が好きだ and 俺はお前のことが好きだ, which use masculine and informal pronouns (俺 and お前) to create a rougher, casual tone often used by men toward a partner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region (including the Osaka and Kyoto areas), specific dialect forms are used to express affection, such as 好きやで, 好きやねん and 好いとんねん.
How do you pronounce it?
ai-shiteru
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, expressing love is often more reserved than in many English-speaking cultures. The phrase 愛してる is a weighty expression that people typically use only during very significant or dramatic moments in a relationship.
Did you know?
- In classic Japanese literature and cinema, the phrase 月が綺麗ですね meaning 'the moon is beautiful, isn't it' was famously used as a poetic substitute for 'I love you'.
- The word 愛 for love was historically rare in spoken Japanese, as the concept of romantic love was often expressed through words for longing or attachment.
- The verb used in 愛してる comes from the verb する, which literally means 'to do'. This makes the literal construction of the phrase 'to be doing love'.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This example shows how to use 愛してる to address someone directly.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 example demonstrates using 愛してる to express deep, sincere emotion.Tatoeba #10680320 by small_snow, translation #6133249 by carlosalberto
- あなた。大好きよ。Honey, I love you.This example shows a more casual, feminine use of the verb 好き.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 本当に愛してるよ。I really love you.
- 好きだよ、ずっとずっと。I love you, always and forever.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are watching the sunset together.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵、ずっと一緒にいたい。Himari, zutto issho ni itai.Himari, I want to be with you forever.
- 陽葵 Himari私もそう思うわ。Watashi mo sou omou wa.I feel the same way.
- 健太 Kenta本当に、愛してるよ。Hontou ni, aishiteru yo.I really love you.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。私も愛してる。Arigatou. Watashi mo aishiteru.Thank you. I love you 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.
