What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 会いたい is literally "want to meet", composed of the verb au (to meet) in its tai (want to) form.
Which one should you use?
While 会いたい is the standard form, 会いたいよ adds the particle yo at the end to provide emotional emphasis or to emphasize that you are telling the listener how you feel. For expressing a sense of loneliness rather than the desire to meet, you can also use 寂しいです, which means "I am lonely".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness changes based on the endings used. 会いたい is the base form. To be polite and suitable for someone you are not extremely close with, use the polite form 会いたいです. In informal situations, such as speaking with friends, you can use 会いたいな or the emphasized 会いたいよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you have been missing someone in the past tense, use the form 会いたかった, which means "I missed you" or "I wanted to see you".
How do you pronounce it?
aitai
Did you know?
- In romantic contexts, 会いたい is often considered a very strong emotional statement. It can be interpreted as a subtle confession of love or a deep romantic longing.
- The word 寂しい (sabishii), used to express the loneliness of missing someone, is sometimes used to describe a 'lonely' or 'sparse' atmosphere in a room or a landscape.
- In Japanese culture, the feeling of longing behind 会いたい is often expressed through silence or indirect cues rather than words. Saying it too often can be seen as overly clingy or emotionally demanding.
Examples in context
- 会いたいよ！I miss you!This sentence is useful for expressing "I miss you" with emphasis using the form 会いたい.Tatoeba #13182085 by atitarev, translation #6055899 by sergiomelo
- 会いたいです / 本当に会いたかったよ。Character A: I want to see you. / Character B: I really missed you.
- 会いたいな / 僕も会いたいよ…Character A: I miss you. / Character B: I miss you too…
- 早く会いたい。Hayaku aitai.I want to see you soon.
- ずっと会いたいと思っていました。Zutto aitai to omotte imashita.I have wanted to see you for a long time.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking on the phone at night.
- 結衣 Yui蓮くん、すごく会いたいよ。Ren-kun, sugoku aitai yo.Ren, I really miss you.
- 蓮 Ren僕も結衣に会いたい。Boku mo Yui ni aitai.I miss you too, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui今週末、会える？Konshuumatsu, aeru?Can we meet this weekend?
- 蓮 Renうん、もちろん！Un, mochiron!Yes, of course!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
