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. While the verb 愛してる (ai-shiteru) exists, it is a very heavy, serious and dramatic way to express love that is often reserved for profound romantic declarations. Additionally, the English phrase 'I love you' is sometimes used directly as the loanword アイ・ラブ・ユー to add a sense of Western-style romantic flair.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary significantly in weight and tone. 愛してる is a heavy, dramatic declaration of profound love. In contrast, forms based on 好き (suki) are the more common and natural way to express affection in daily life. Some forms are also gender-specific or stylistically different, such as the masculine and informal 俺はお前が好きだ (ore wa omae ga suki da).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of formality and gender expression changes depending on the pronouns and verbs used. 私はあなたが好きだ (watashi wa anata ga suki da) uses standard pronouns, while 俺はお前が好きだ (ore wa omae ga suki da) is very masculine and informal, often used in rougher romantic contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, such as the Osaka or Kyoto area, you might hear the characteristic dialect forms 好いとんねん (suitonnen) or 好きやねん (sukiyanen).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make a feeling sound more holistic, you can add のことが (no koto ga) after a person, implying you love everything about that person rather than just the person themselves. Additionally, adding the particle よ (yo) to the end of a phrase, such as in 好きよ (suki yo), provides a soft, assertive emphasis to the declaration.
How do you pronounce it?
ai-shiteru
Did you know?
- In Japan, some people prefer to express 'i love you' by saying 月が綺麗ですね (tsuki ga kirei desu ne), which literally means 'the moon is beautiful, isn't it'.
- The word 愛 (ai) in 愛してる was historically used more for the love of a deity or a country than for romantic partners.
- Japanese culture historically placed a high value on 'reading the air' or silence, meaning that a deep, meaningful look could sometimes communicate 'I love you' more effectively than the actual words ever could.
Examples in context
- 愛してるよ、リサ！I love you, Lisa!This sentence shows how to use the form 愛してる in an exclamation.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 sentence demonstrates using 愛してる to express deep, heartfelt emotion.Tatoeba #10680320 by small_snow, translation #6133249 by carlosalberto
- あなた。大好きよ。Honey, I love you.This sentence shows the use of the form 好きよ for a soft, assertive declaration of affection.Tatoeba #12698715 by small_snow, translation #2185162 by Hybrid
- 愛してるよI love you.
- 大好きだよI really like you
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a park at sunset.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、本当に愛してる。Hinata-kun, hontou ni aishiteru.Hinata, I truly love you.
- 陽太 Yota僕も、ずっと愛してるよ。Boku mo, zutto aishiteru yo.I love you too, forever.
- 陽葵 Himari幸せすぎて、涙が出そう。Shiawase sugite, namida ga desou.I'm so happy, I might cry.
- 陽太 Yota僕がずっとそばにいるよ。Boku ga zutto soba ni iru yo.I will always be by your side.
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.
