'I Love You' in Japanese: 愛してる
In Japanese, "I love you" is 愛してる — pronounced Aishiteru. Here is how to say it right, what the related phrases mean, and when to use them.
Translation
How to say "I Love You" in Japanese
Romantic Phrases in Japanese — and What They Mean
| English Phrase | Japanese Translation |
|---|---|
| I love you |
愛してる (Aishiteru)
|
| Love You |
大好き (Daisuki)
|
| We Love You |
私たちはあなたを愛しています (Watashitachi wa anata o aishiteimasu)
|
| I love you so much |
とても愛してる (Totemo aishiteru)
|
| Love you so much |
すごく好き (Sugoku suki)
|
| I love you forever |
永遠に愛してる (Eien ni aishiteru)
|
| I will always love you |
いつもあなたを愛しています (Itsumo anata o aishiteimasu)
|
| I adore you |
あなたを崇拝しています (Anata o sūhai shiteimasu)
|
| You mean the world to me |
あなたは私のすべてです (Anata wa watashi no subete desu)
|
| Mommy Loves You |
ママはあなたを愛しています (Mama wa anata o aishiteimasu)
|
| Daddy Loves you |
パパはあなたを愛しています (Papa wa anata o aishiteimasu)
|
| My darling, I love you |
愛しい人、愛してる (Itoshii hito, aishiteru)
|
| I miss you, my love |
会いたいです、私の愛 (Aitai desu, watashi no ai)
|
In Japanese culture, openly declaring love - Saying "aishiteru" (愛してる) - Is actually quite rare and considered very intense. Most couples express affection through actions rather than words, making a direct declaration especially meaningful.
In Japanese, directly saying "I love you" with 愛してる (Aishiteru) is very strong and not used casually. Japanese people often express love through actions or lighter phrases like "I like you" or "I really like you."
How to Pronounce It
- A-i (pronounced like 'eye')
- shi-te (pronounced like 'sheh-teh')
- ru (pronounced like 'roo' in 'room')
What each word means
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 愛 (ai) | love (noun) |
| し (shi) | verb stem of 'suru' (to do/make), forming 'to love' |
| て (te) | particle, linking to 'iru' |
| る (ru) | contraction of 'iru' (to be/exist), indicating a continuous state |
Ways to Say It in Japanese
Not every version means the same thing. Some are casual, some are serious. Pick the one that matches how you actually feel.
| Phrase | When to use it | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| 愛してる Aishiteru |
Deeply romantic, very strong, less common in daily speech. | strong |
| 愛しています Aishiteimasu |
A more formal or polite version of Aishiteru, still very strong. | strong |
| 好きだよ Suki da yo |
Commonly used for 'I like you' or a softer 'I love you' in romantic contexts. | medium |
| 大好きだよ Daisuki da yo |
'I really like you,' used for strong affection towards anyone: friends, family, partners. | medium |
A quick grammar note
Japanese verb conjugations change based on politeness level, not gender. The word order is typically Subject-Object-Verb, but subjects are often omitted when clear from context.
When People Actually Say It
Japanese culture often values subtlety and indirectness in expressing strong emotions. "Aishiteru" is considered a very heavy phrase, usually reserved for extremely serious romantic declarations or used in media. Many people prefer to show love through actions, thoughtful gestures, or by using lighter phrases like "suki da yo" (I like you).
- Using "Aishiteru" too casually or too early in a relationship, as it implies a very deep, often lifelong commitment.
- Expecting a direct verbal "I love you" in return, as Japanese people may express affection differently, through actions or less direct phrases.
How it sounds in a real conversation
A:
好きだよ。
I like you. (Often implies 'I love you')
B:
私も好きだよ。
I like you too. (Me too)
Keep Going
Once you can say it out loud, the next step is writing it down. Our AI love letter generator can write a full letter in Japanese for you, and our collection of love quotes is useful if you want to borrow better words. You can also add the right symbol with our guide to love emoji meanings.