Is “I Love You” Translated Only as “Aishiteru”? Exploring Japanese Literary Interpretations

“Sensei, how do you say ‘I love you’ in Japanese?” — I personally find this question challenging to answer when asked.

The literal translation for “I love you” would be “aishiteru” in Japanese. However, I’ve never said or been told such a phrase, nor have I ever heard it from my close friends. It seems like a phrase from a world that is unrelated to my own, something you encounter in romance movies, novels, and lyrics. This is just my personal perspective.

When I get asked, I always answer, “The literal translation is ‘aishiteru,’ but we rarely use it. ‘Sukidesu’ is more natural.” Students always say, “But doesn’t that mean ‘I like you’?” Of course, I have an answer for that as well, and I continue, “Yes, so we emphasize how much you like the person by using various versions of the phrase, such as ‘daisuki desu’ (I like you a lot), ‘ichiban suki desu’ (I like you the most), or ‘zutto suki deshita’ (I’ve been thinking of you).” The students usually respond with, “Oh, I see!”

Now, how do Japanese people express their feelings of love, especially since they rarely say “aishiteru”? Today, we will explore how to express “LOVE,” from the literary works of classic authors to modern-day generations, through both written and spoken phrases.

I found a wonderful book at the library called “How to Translate ‘I Love You’”. It introduces 100 different ways of expressing “I love you” from letters and novels written by classic authors, each directed to their beloved.

In the preface, the author, Ryoma Mochizuki, explains, “The Japanese language can differentiate subtle nuances, adjusting to the passage of time, the changing seasons, and shifts in emotions. Furthermore, as the speaker changes, the variety of expressions expands infinitely.” This highlights the unique features of the Japanese language. I encourage you to experience these distinct expressions for yourself.

He was once an English teacher. One day, one of his students translated “I love you” as “我君ヲ愛ス,” (Waga kimi o aisuru) and he said, “We Japanese people never say such a phrase like that. I cannot feel the atmosphere or emotion. Let’s say ‘月が綺麗ですね’ (The Moon is Beautiful, Isn’t It?) instead.” However, the story is not definitively confirmed, as there is no solid source to verify it. As a modern person, if someone says “月が綺麗ですね” (The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?), I would only think, “Yes, it is.” However, it offers a glimpse into a time when emotions were highly valued, and personally, I find it beautiful.

There is an anecdote about Futaba-tei Shimei, the author of Ukigumo and a translator of Russian literature, a Meiji-era literary figure. He translated “I love you” as “死んでもいいわ” (“I would die for you”). It is said that he translated the Russian word “ваша” (yours) as “私はあなたのもの” (I am yours), which he then expressed as “死んでもいいわ” (“I would die for you”). This translation resonated deeply with many, which is why it has been passed down through generations to this day.

Longer Expressions of “I Love You”

・Osamu Dazai
“Please meet me again, and if you don’t want to, please say it clearly. The fire in my chest was ignited by you, so only you can put it out. I alone cannot extinguish it.”

・Haruki Murakami
“She is the 100% girl for me. The moment I laid eyes on her, my heart began to tremble irregularly, and my mouth became dry, like a desert.”

A short yet heartfelt expression of “I love you”

・Rio Shimamoto “May I kiss you?”
・Jakucho Setouchi “Won’t you die with me?”
・Shiho Tanimura “I want to have your child.”
・Hitonari Tsuji “You became eternal within me that night.”
・Yumeji Takehisa “More than anything, I just want to meet you, to talk.”
・Mangetsu Hanamura “If it’s your vomit, I’ll lick it clean.”

The Letters Written by Classic Authors to Their Beloveds

・Hyakken Uchida
“When it comes to my beloved Kiyo-san, I become completely foolish. I don’t know what to do.”

・Saneatsu Mushanokōji
“These days, when I think of you, tears first rise in my mind. They are not sad tears, but they come naturally, and I think to myself that you must be doing well.”

・Ryunosuke Akutagawa
“I feel like I want to talk with you, just the two of us, forever and ever. And then, I’d like to kiss you. But if you don’t want that, I won’t. Lately, I think you’re so cute that if you were a sweet, I’d want to eat you from head to toe.”

・Hakushū Kitahara
“There’s no need to be afraid. I’m in love with you, you know. How silly.”

How was it? Were there any parts that you could relate to, phrases that left you puzzled, or ones that you found wonderful?

We have introduced phrases used in written forms, such as those found in novels or letters by classic authors. Now, let’s shift our focus to spoken phrases. Here are some “words for confessing your feelings” that I’ve come across in romance TV shows, novels, or even heard directly from high school students.

・ずっと好きでした。 I’ve liked you for a long time.
・ 初めて会った時から好きでした。 I’ve liked you since the moment we first met.
・付き合ってください。 Please be my boyfriend/girlfriend.
・好き！俺の彼女になって！ I like you! Be my girlfriend!
・これからもずっと一緒にいたい。 I want us to always be together.
・友だちのままじゃいやです。 I don’t want to stay just friends.
・気づいたら好きになっちゃいました。 Before I knew it, I had fallen for you.
・幸せにしたいです。 I want to make you happy.
・大切にします。 I’ll take care of you.
・一緒にいて本当に楽しい。付き合って。 I really enjoy being with you. Please be my boyfriend/girlfriend.
・あなたの彼氏／彼女にしてください。 Please let me be your boyfriend/girlfriend.
・二人の思い出をたくさん作りたい。 I want to create lots of memories with you.

These spoken phrases are more straightforward and easier to grasp in meaning. This highlights one of the characteristics of the Japanese language—the significant differences between written and spoken forms.

Don’t Japanese people really use the phrase “aishiteru”? That’s not entirely true. It can create a sense of specialness when used at significant moments, like during a proposal. While people tend to avoid saying it directly to their loved ones, they may use it when talking to others. For example, a friend might ask, “Do you actually love him?” or someone might make a declaration like, “I love her from the bottom of my heart.” They may also use adjectives to emphasize their feelings, like, “Hear me out about my loving boyfriend!”

These tendencies seem to be influenced by Japan’s high-context culture and the Japanese sense of virtue. In Japan, it has been considered virtuous to avoid self-assertion and to embrace humility and modesty. These ideas reflect beliefs such as “the person should understand me without me saying anything” and “if we are married, of course that means we love each other.” However, with changing generations, these ideas seem outdated. From my perspective, we should all express important feelings to our loved ones.

I found an interesting phrase in a TV show. A character said “Aishiteruyo!” (I love you) in a situation where someone did something that no one else wanted to do. The scene was set on a hot summer day when everyone wanted to eat ice cream, but no one wanted to go get it. The person who lost at rock-paper-scissors ended up going to get the ice cream for everyone. The others continued by saying, “Thank you! I love you” as a form of sarcasm.

Additionally, in deeply emotional moments, there are instances where a person who is battling an illness may say “Thank you for everything. I love you” to their family or partner as their final words before passing.

We’ve explored the phrase “I love you” and discovered a wide range of expressions. Today, we focused on how feelings are expressed in Japanese, which opens up an interesting discussion about the psychological reasons behind questions like, “Why don’t Japanese people say ‘I love you’?” or “Why don’t they express it to their family?” One of the great things about attending a language school is the opportunity to discuss these topics with classmates from around the world. Be sure to check out TCJ’s social media to get a feel for the atmosphere at the school!

＜References＞
Mochizuki, R. (2016). 『I Love Youの訳し方』 [How to translate “I love you”]. Raichosha.
Takarajimasha Editorial Department. (2018). 『文豪たちのラブレター』[Love letters from classic authors]. Takarajimasha.