会いたいよ
aitai yocasual, romantic
To a boy you are close to, say 会いたいよ (aitai yo), which means "I want to see you". It is the natural way to say "I miss you" in Japanese. It is also called 会いたい (aitai) and 寂しいよ (sabishii yo).
Meaning: expressing that you miss someone (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 会いたいよ | aitai yo | casual, romantic |
| 会いたい | aitai | casual |
| 寂しいよ | sabishii yo | casual |
Japanese has no single verb for "miss" in this sense. 会いたい (aitai) literally means "want to meet", and the ending よ (yo) makes it softer and more personal.
Which one should you use?
寂しいよ (sabishii yo) means "I feel lonely" and puts the focus on your own feeling rather than on seeing him.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase does not change for a boy or a girl. What changes is the tone around it. You can add his name with くん (kun), as in たくみくん、会いたいよ (Takumi-kun, aitai yo).
Did you know?
- The Japanese for "miss" here is built on the verb 会う (au), "to meet", so Japanese speakers literally say they want to meet the person.
Examples in context
- 会いたいよ、早く帰ってきて。Aitai yo, hayaku kaette kite.I miss you, come back soon.
- たくみくんがいなくて寂しい。Takumi-kun ga inakute sabishii.I feel lonely without Takumi.
Example conversation
Yui talks on the phone with her boyfriend Takumi, who is away on a business trip.
- Yui今日も遅いの？Kyō mo osoi no?Are you late again today?
- Takumiごめん、明日帰るよ。Gomen, ashita kaeru yo.Sorry, I will be back tomorrow.
- Yui会いたいよ。Aitai yo.I miss you.
