大好き
daisuki[da̠isɨ̥kʲi]
The Japanese phrase for "I love you so much" is 大好き (daisuki).
大好き is used to express strong affection or a deep liking for someone or something. While it is often translated as "I love you," it can also be used to express affection for objects, food or hobbies.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of 大, which means "big / large" and 好き, which means "to like".
Which one should you use?
大好き is a common way to express affection in daily life and is less heavy than the more intense aishiteru.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the expression polite, you can say 大好きです.
How do you pronounce it?
daisuki
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use aishiteru when daisuki is more culturally appropriate for most romantic contexts.
Did you know?
- The character 好 in 大好き is composed of elements representing 'woman' and 'child', which historically suggests the concept of a mother's affection or a harmonious relationship.
- In Japanese culture, the feeling of 好き is often described as a 'pull' or a 'magnetic attraction' toward another person, rather than a feeling that exists inside the speaker.
- In anime and manga, characters often use 大好き as a 'confession' of love, known as kokuhaku, which marks the official start of a romantic relationship.
Examples in context
- 猫が大好きです。Neko ga daisuki desu.I love cats.
- 君のことが大好きだよ。Kimi no koto ga daisuki da yo.I love you so much.
- 日本料理が大好きです。Nihon ryouri ga daisuki desu.I love Japanese food.
Example conversation
A couple is walking in a park on a sunny day.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、君のことが大好きだよ。Yui, kimi no koto ga daisuki da yo.Yui, I love you so much.
- 結衣 Yui本当？私も大翔のことが大好き。Hontou? Watashi mo Hiroto no koto ga daisuki.Really? I love you too, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoずっと一緒にいようね。Zutto issho ni iyou ne.Let's stay together forever.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、約束だよ。Un, yakusoku da yo.Yes, it's a promise.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 大好き, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
