友達がいなくて寂しい
Tomodachi ga inakute sabishii
To say "I miss my friends" in Japanese, use 友達がいなくて寂しい (Tomodachi ga inakute sabishii).
Japanese does not have a direct equivalent to the verb 'to miss'. Instead, one expresses the feeling of loneliness caused by the absence of the person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'My friends are not here and I feel lonely.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 寂しい (sabishii) is the core word expressing the feeling of loneliness or missing someone.
How do you pronounce it?
Tomodachi ga inakute sabishii
Did you know?
- The word 寂しい is related to the concept of 'wabi-sabi', where a certain type of loneliness or solitude is actually seen as a beautiful, aesthetic quality.
- In Japanese, the word 寂しい can also be written with the kanji 淋しい, which evokes a sense of feeling 'drenched' or 'soaked' by loneliness.
- Depending on the region, 寂しい (sabishii) may be pronounced as 淋しい (samishii). While both are understood, samishii is often felt to be more emotionally intense or colloquial.
Examples in context
- あの頃の友人たちがとても恋しいです。I miss my friends from back then.
- 友人たちに会いたくてたまりません。I can't bear not seeing my friends.
- 友達に会いたいな。I want to see my friends.
- 友達が恋しい。I miss my friends.
- 今は友達がいなくて寂しい。Ima wa tomodachi ga inakute sabishii.I feel lonely because my friends aren't here right now.
- 一人暮らしは友達がいなくて寂しい。Hitorigurashi wa tomodachi ga inakute sabishii.Living alone is lonely because I don't have my friends around.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone about living in a new city.
- 大翔 Hiroto新しい街はどう？Atarashii machi wa dou?How is the new city?
- 結衣 Yui友達がいなくて寂しいよ。Tomodachi ga inakute sabishii yo.I miss my friends.
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫？無理しないでね。Daijoubu? Muri shinaide ne.Are you okay? Don't push yourself too hard.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、ありがとう。Un, arigatou.Yeah, thanks.
