Ways to Say "I Love You" in Japanese
In Japanese, the usual romantic confession is 好きです (suki desu), which is the most common and safest way to say 'I love you.' 愛してる (aishiteru) is a stronger, more direct declaration used less often in everyday speech.
The most common way
suki desu
I like/love you — the standard romantic confession, polite and broadly safe.
How to say it: Say it close to 'ski des'; the u in す and です is very short and often devoiced.
Other ways to say it
- casual
suki da yo
I like/love you — warm and casual, common between partners or peers.
When to use it: Say it to a boyfriend, girlfriend, or close peer in a relaxed, familiar setting.
- strong romantic
aishiteru
I love you deeply — intense and direct, with a serious, emotional weight.
When to use it: Use it with a serious romantic partner in an emotionally important moment; it can sound heavy if said casually.
- polite/formal
aishite imasu
I love you deeply — polite and serious, often in writing or a formal romantic tone.
When to use it: Use it in a sincere letter, a formal speech, or when speaking politely to a partner in a weighty moment.
- affectionate
daisuki da yo
I love you / I'm very fond of you — warm and affectionate, less heavy than 愛してる.
When to use it: Say it to a partner, close friend, or family member when you want a warm, everyday declaration.
- casual slang
meccha suki
I really like/love you — very casual, youthful and emphatic.
When to use it: Use it with close friends or a partner in casual conversation; it sounds young and slangy.
- sincere confession
zutto suki deshita
I've liked/loved you for a long time — a sincere confession of long-held feelings.
When to use it: Use it when confessing to someone you are not yet dating, especially in a sincere, slightly formal way.
In a conversation
- A
。
Zutto suki deshita.
I've liked you for a long time.
- B
。
Watashi mo daisuki desu.
I love you too.
Common mistakes
愛してるです→ 愛しています愛してる is the plain form and cannot be followed directly by です; use the polite 愛しています or plain 愛してる.