会いたい
aitai
The phrase "you miss someone" in Japanese is expressed as 会いたい (aitai).
会いたい is used to express a desire to see and be with someone who is not currently with you. Because Japanese often omits the subject and the object, 会いたい can mean "I want to see you", "I miss you" or "I want to see him/her" depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally a combination of the verb au (to meet) and the auxiliary tai (want to), which translates to "want to meet".
Which one should you use?
While 会いたい focuses on the active desire to meet, the adjective sabishii is used to express the feeling of loneliness or the emotional void caused by someone's absence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can make the expression polite and suitable for use with acquaintances or people you are not on intimate terms with by adding desu to the end, resulting in 会いたいです.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you missed someone in the past, such as saying "I missed you while you were away", you use the past tense form 会いたかった.
How do you pronounce it?
aitai
Did you know?
- In romantic contexts, Japanese people may avoid 会いたい to prevent appearing too demanding or clingy, preferring to imply the feeling through other topics.
- Depending on the tone, 会いたい can be used as a subtle way to initiate a romantic confession without explicitly using the word 'love'.
- The verb inside 会いたい, 会う (au), is also used in the context of 'meeting' a fate or a certain destiny.
Examples in context
- 家族にとても会いたい。Kazoku ni totemo aitai.I really miss my family.
- 明日、彼女に会いたい。Ashita, kanojo ni aitai.I want to see her tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、久しぶり！Yui, hisashiburi!Yui, it's been a while!
- 結衣 Yui大翔！私も会いたいよ。Hiroto! Watashi mo aitai yo.Hiroto! I miss you too.
- 大翔 Hiroto今週末、時間ある？Konshuumatsu, jikan aru?Are you free this weekend?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、ぜひ会おう！Un, zehi aou!Yes, let's definitely meet up!
