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 |
These phrases are used to affirm romantic feelings.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase 俺はお前のことが好きだ, the particle combination のことが is used to express that you like the person's entire being or essence, rather than just a specific trait.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 愛してる is much more intense and heavy than common expressions of affection. It is often reserved for deep, serious romantic commitment. In contrast, Suki da yo is less intense. The katakana transcription アイ・ラブ・ユー is sometimes used in pop songs or highly stylized romantic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression 俺はお前が好きだ is very informal and typically masculine due to the use of 俺 (ore) and お前 (omae). In an informal context, Suki da yo means "I love you" but is less intense compared to other phrases.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region (Osaka/Kyoto area), you may hear characteristic expressions of affection like 好きやねん or 好いとんねん.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Watashi wa anata o aishite imasu translates to 'I love you' and emphasizes the ongoing nature of your love.
How do you pronounce it?
ai-shiteru
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, people rarely say 愛してる (ai-shiteru) out loud, even in long-term relationships, preferring more subtle or indirect ways to show love.
Did you know?
- In Japanese-inspired literature, a famous way to say 'I love you' is not to say the words at all, but to say 'The moon is beautiful, isn't it?' (月が綺麗ですね).
- In some traditional contexts, a confession of love is referred to as 告白 (kokuhaku), which literally translates to 'confession' as if one is admitting to a crime.
- The word 好き (suki) is technically an adjective meaning 'likable' rather than a verb meaning 'to like', which is why the grammar differs from English.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This is useful for addressing someone named Lisa directly using 愛してる.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 shows how to express deep, heartfelt love using 愛してる.Tatoeba #10680320 by small_snow, translation #6133249 by carlosalberto
- あなた。大好きよ。Honey, I love you.This is a way to express affection toward a partner using 好きよ.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet evening in a park during a date.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、本当に愛してる。Kenta-san, hontou ni aishiteru.Kenta, I really love you.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、美咲。僕も愛してるよ。Arigatou, Misaki. Boku mo aishiteru yo.Thank you, Misaki. I love you too.
- 美咲 Misakiずっと一緒にいようね。Zutto issho ni iyou ne.Let's stay together forever.
- 健太 Kentaうん、約束するよ。Un, yakusoku suru yo.Yes, I promise.
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
