In the Japanese language, Ai shiteiru (I love you) is not to be thrown around lightly. If you want to say “I love you” in Japanese, you have a few options, but you’ll need to choose the expression that suits your relationship.
Maybe you want to tell your mother “I love you, bye!” before you hang up the phone or maybe you want to let your romantic partner know how you feel. Learn how to let someone know you love them in the appropriate way with these options for all your special relationships, from platonic to romantic.
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How to say ‘I love you’ in Japanese to romantic partners
Expressing affection through words is not an everyday occurrence for most Japanese people, and being icha icha (a cute Japanese word for “lovey-dovey”) in public is even more unusual.
So, if you wish to say something heartfelt, consider the weight of your words. If you’re ready to tell your partner—whether you’ve been together for a few days or decades—you love them, try one of these options.
Ai shiteiru (I love you)
The most literal translation for “I love you” in Japanese is ai shiteiru (愛している). It’s a direct, clear declaration of the love you feel for another person.
Depending on how casual or polite you want to be, you can alter the Japanese verb conjugation to suit your relationship.
- Ai shiteiru.（愛している。）= I love you. (casual)
- Ai shiteru.（愛してる。) = I love you. (very casual)
- Ai shiteimasu.（愛しています。）= I love you. (polite)
To say “I love you, too” in Japanese, just say your choice of pronoun for “I” and particle mo, and then repeat the phrase back to them.
- Watashi mo ai shiteiru yo.（私も愛しているよ。）= I love you, too.
Suki (I like/love you)
Depending on the situation, suki (好き) can be used to mean “like” or “love.” Whether you’re trying to convey “I love you” or “I like you” in Japanese, it’s important to add no koto (のこと) after the person’s name or Japanese pronoun.
Literally, no koto means “things about,” but when used in reference to a person, it adds the implication that you like (or love) everything about them.
- Yumi no koto ga suki da yo.（ゆみのことが好きだよ。）= I like/love you, Yuki.
Daisuki (I really like/love you)
To take suki one step further, you can use daisuki (大好き) instead, which combines the words for “big” and “like.” In other words, you “really like” or “really love” something or someone.
If you’ve been dating someone for a while and you want to convey that your feelings are stronger than they were when you first started dating, daisuki is a good choice.
- Makoto kun no koto ga daisuki yo.（誠君のことが大好きよ。）= I really like you, Makoto.
Muchū desu (I’m crazy about you)
The word muchū (夢中) literally means “in a dream.” So, if you’re “in a dream” with someone or something, you might feel a little crazy!
You can use this word to say you’re obsessed with a hobby or a celebrity, but you can also use it to describe being head over heels in love with someone.
- Kimi ni muchū desu!（君に夢中です！）= I’m crazy about you!
Koi shiteiru (I’m in love with you)
Rather than a simple “I love you,” koi shiteiru (恋している) conveys a more heartfelt “I’m in love with you.” While the kanji for ai shiteiru means “love” (愛), the kanji for koi shiteiru means “romance” (恋).
Reserve this one for someone you have romantic feelings for! Like ai shiteiru, you can change the Japanese verb conjugation of shiteiru to alter the level of familiarity.
- Kimi ni koi shiteiru.（君に恋している。）= I’m in love with you.
Telling family and friends ‘I love you’
Even toward family and friends, expressions of love are much more uncommon in Japanese culture than they are in American culture.
You’re likely to startle someone if you hug them without asking permission first (and the request itself may be a surprise), and it’s not unusual to find Japanese people who never or rarely say “I love you” to their parents, friends, or anyone who isn’t their romantic partner. Instead, love is usually conveyed through actions.
Still, if you want to say “I love you” in words to your parents or friends, the same ai shiteiru and suki you might use for your partner are appropriate.
Key takeaways about saying ‘I love you’ in Japanese
If someone tells you “I love you,” you can either choose an appropriate “thank you” in Japanese or simply say it back to them (or both).
After all, if someone tells you they love you, they’ll probably be happy to hear that you love them, too! If you remember nothing else, remember these three things about saying “I love you”:
- To say “I love you” to a romantic partner, try daisuki or ai shiteiru.
- Suki and ai shiteiru are safe options to say “I love you” to family and friends, but you should consider doing so sparingly.
- Displays of verbal or physical affection are uncommon in Japanese culture (especially in public).
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