Have you ever felt so in love that you wanted to say "I love you" in another language? Japanese is a language full of subtleties and beautiful ways to express emotions — and that includes love, of course. If you're looking for something more poetic, sweeter, or simply want to expand your vocabulary of affection, you've come to the right place.
In this article, you will find romantic phrases and expressions of love in Japanese, organized by themes, with translations and pronunciation for you to fall even more in love. Some are delicate and shy. Others are intense and deep. Choose the one that best matches your moment.
Table of Contents
Direct love phrases
These are clear statements, ideal for those who want to be straightforward without losing sweetness:
わたしは、あなたを愛しています
Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu
I love you.
あなたが好きです
Anata ga suki desu
I like you.
大好きだよ
Daisuki da yo
I like you a lot.
あなたのことが好きでたまらない
Anata no koto ga suki de tamaranai
I can't help but love you.
愛してる
Aishiteru
I love you. (intimate and intense form)
Poetic expressions about love
Japan loves metaphors. These phrases are perfect for deeper romantic messages:
愛は風のよう、あなたはそれを見ることはできませんが、それを感じることができます。
Ai wa kaze no yō, anata wa sore o miru koto wa dekimasen ga, sore o kanjiru koto ga dekimasu.
Love is like the wind, you can't see it, but you can feel it.
「愛」はただ単に「愛」である。説明なんてできない。
“Ai” wa tada tan ni “ai” de aru. Setsumei nante dekinai.
Love is just love, it can never be explained.
月がきれいですね
Tsuki ga kirei desu ne
The moon is beautiful, isn't it? (poetic way of saying "I love you")
Phrases for romantic moments in everyday life
Looking for something more casual to use on a date, or to send in a chat?
あそびにいこう！
Asobini ikou!
Let's go out together!
キスしたい
Kisu shitai
I want to kiss you.
キスしよう
Kisu shiyou
Let's kiss.
ハグしよう
Hagu shiyou
Let's hug.
手をつなごうよ
Te o tsunagou yo
Let's hold hands.
デートに行こう！
Deeto ni ikou!
Let's go out on a date!
Phrases about longing and affection
When the distance tightens, or when you want to express care:
あなたがいないと寂しい
Anata ga inai to sabishii
I feel lonely without you.
あなたが恋しいです
Anata ga koishii desu
I miss you.
守りたい
Mamoritai
I want to protect you.
大事にしたい
Daiji ni shitai
I value you very much.
Phrases about being together and commitment
These are ideal for when the relationship is more serious:
ずっと一緒にいたい
Zutto issho ni itai
I want to always be with you.
一緒にいると楽しい！
Issho ni iru to tanoshii!
I have fun when I'm with you.
カップルです
Kappuru desu
We are a couple.
私と付き合ってください
Watashi to tsukiatte kudasai
Break up with me.
結婚しよう
Kekkon shiyou
Marry me.
If you've made it this far, you now have an arsenal of romantic phrases in Japanese to use with whoever you want—whether in a special conversation, a letter, or even your favorite anime.
And if you want to delve even deeper, we also recommend our complementary article: Pick-up lines and romantic phrases in Japanese. Who knows, you might find the perfect phrase for that unexpected moment!
