私も寂しい
watashi mo sabishii
To say "I miss you too" in Japanese, you can answer 私も寂しい (watashi mo sabishii), which literally means I am lonely too.
Japanese has no single verb for missing someone. Instead, you express it with the adjective sabishii, meaning lonely, so 私も寂しい tells someone you also feel sad because they are away.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is made of watashi, meaning I, mo, meaning also and sabishii, meaning lonely.
Which one should you use?
A very common alternative uses 会いたい (aitai), meaning I want to see you. Watashi mo aitai desu. is a formal way to say it, while Boku mo aitai yo. and Ore mo aitai na. are informal. Watashi mo koishikute tamaranai desu. is a formal way to say I also miss you terribly.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using ore instead of watashi, as in 俺も寂しい, makes the phrase sound more masculine and casual.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect you may hear Boku mo omae ni aitai ya, meaning I also want to see you.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding desu to make 私も寂しいです makes the phrase more polite, suitable for someone you are not on intimate terms with.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced watashi mo sabishii.
Did you know?
- The word 寂しい is closely related to the aesthetic concept of 侘寂 ('wabi-sabi'), which finds profound beauty in imperfection, loneliness and the natural cycle of growth and decay.
- While 寂しい ('sabishii') describes the feeling of missing someone, it can also be used to describe a place that feels 'empty' or 'desolate', such as a street without any shops.
- Depending on the level of intimacy, a Japanese speaker might omit the word 私も ('watashi mo') entirely and simply say 寂しい ('sabishii') to convey that they share the same feeling.
Examples in context
- Watashi mo aitai desu. (私も会いたいです。)I miss you too.
- 私も寂しいよ。Watashi mo sabishii yo.I miss you too, you know.
- 一人だと私も寂しい。Hitori dato watashi mo sabishii.I miss you too when I'm alone.
Example conversation
Two lovers talking on the phone at night.
- 蓮 Ren会えなくて、すごく寂しいよ。Aenakute, sugoku sabishii yo.I miss you so much because I can't see you.
- 結衣 Yui私も寂しい。Watashi mo sabishii.I miss you too.
- 蓮 Ren早く会いたいね。Hayaku aitai ne.I want to see you soon.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、私も。Un, watashi mo.Yeah, me too.
