Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ロマンス | romansu | [ɾo̞mã̠ɰ̃sɨ] (narrow) |
| 恋愛 | ren'ai | [ɾẽ̞ɰ̃a̠i] (narrow) |
| 恋 | koi | [ko̞i] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word for romance varies based on whether you are describing an emotional state, a formal concept of romantic love or a dramatic story. Use 恋愛 to discuss the concept of romantic love or the state of being in a relationship. Use 恋 to describe the intense emotional feeling of longing or passion for someone. Use ロマンス when referring to a dramatic, story-like or idealized romantic affair.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their nuance and focus. 恋愛 is a standard term for the concept of romantic love or a relationship, often used in a descriptive or clinical sense. In contrast, 恋 focuses on the subjective emotional feeling of being in love or the sensation of longing. While ロマンス refers to a romance, it carries a more dramatic, 'story-like' connotation suited for grand tales rather than everyday dating. Additionally, the related form ロマン is used to express 'romanticism', a sense of grand adventure or idealism.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
romansu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, you can experience ロマン (roman) through a grand scientific discovery or a brave exploration, not just through a person.
- The word 恋 focuses on the feeling of longing and is often associated with a 'selfish' love, whereas 愛 describes a selfless, giving love.
- In Japanese pop culture, the term 恋愛 is frequently paired with 'simulation' to describe a specific genre of video games where players develop a relationship with a character.
Examples in context
- おすすめの恋愛小説はありますか？Can you recommend a romance novel for me?This sentence is useful for asking about a recommendation for a 恋愛 novel.Tatoeba #2955247 by tommy_san, translation #3448577 by AlanF_US
- 生涯のロマンスは自己愛から始まる。To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.This sentence demonstrates the use of ロマンス in a philosophical context regarding a life-long affair.Tatoeba #2256781 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #2256024 by DiePain
- 傷つくのが嫌だとか言ってたら恋愛なんてできないよ。If you don't want to get hurt, then love and romance are not for you.This sentence shows how 恋愛 is used when discussing the ability to experience romantic love.Tatoeba #3717963 by tommy_san, translation #7766917 by metcaslix
- 私は恋愛に深い関心を抱いていますI have a deep interest in romance.
- 愛してるI love you.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a movie in a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariこの映画はロマンスが素敵だね。Kono eiga wa romansu ga suteki dane.The romance in this movie is wonderful.
- 蓮 Renうん、二人の関係がとても美しいよ。Un, futari no kankei ga totemo utsukushii yo.Yeah, the relationship between the two is very beautiful.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くんも、こういう物語が好き？Ren-kun mo, kouiu monogatari ga suki?Ren, do you like these kinds of stories too?
- 蓮 Renそうだね、すごく感動するよ。Sou dane, sugoku kandou suru yo.That's true, they are very moving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “romance” translations and entries ロマンス, 恋愛, 恋, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
