How Do You Say Love in Japanese?

The Difference Between "Ai" and "Koi"

Japanese calligraphic work 'Ai'. Getty Images

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Updated on March 26, 2018

In Japanese, both "ai （愛）" and "koi （恋）" can be roughly translated as "love" in English. However, the two characters have a slightly different nuance.

Koi

"Koi" is a love for the opposite sex or a feeling of longing for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love."

Here are some proverbs that include "koi."

恋に師匠なし Koi ni shishou nashi	Love needs no teaching.
恋に上下の隔てなし Koi ni jouge no hedate nashi	Love makes all men equal.
恋は思案のほか Koi wa shian no hoka	Love is without reason.
恋は盲目 Koi wa moumoku.	Love is blind.
恋は熱しやすく冷めやすい。 Koi wa nesshi yasuku same yasui	Love becomes deep easily, but cools down soon.

Ai

While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love. "Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love.

"Ai （愛）" can be used as a female name. Japan's new royal baby was named Princess Aiko, which is written with the kanji characters for "love （愛）" and "child （子）." However, "koi （恋）" is rarely used as a name.

Another slight different between the two emotions is that "koi" is always wanting and "ai" is always giving.

Words Containing Koi and Ai

To find out more, the following chart will take a look at words containing "ai" or "koi".

Words containing "Ai (愛)"	Words containing "Koi (恋)"
愛読書 aidokusho one's favorite book	初恋 hatsukoi first love
愛人 aijin lover	悲恋 hiren sad love
愛情 aijou love; affection	恋人 koibito one's boyfriend/girlfriend
愛犬家 aikenka a dog lover	恋文 koibumi love letter
愛国心 aikokushin patriotism	恋敵 koigataki a rival in love
愛車 aisha one's cherished car	恋に落ちる koi ni ochiru to fall in love with
愛用する aiyousuru to use habitually	恋する koisuru to be in love with
母性愛 boseiai mother's love, maternal affection	恋愛 renai love
博愛 hakuai philanthropy	失恋 shitsuren disappointed love

"Renai （恋愛）" is written with the kanji characters of both "koi" and "ai." This word means, "romantic love." "Renai-kekkon （恋愛結婚）" is a "love marriage," which is the opposite of "miai-kekkon (見合い結婚, arranged marriage)." "Renai-shousetsu （恋愛小説）" is "a love story" or "a romance novel." The title of the movie, "As Good As It Gets" was translated as "Renai-shousetuska (恋愛小説家, A Romance Novel Writer)."

"Soushi-souai （相思相愛）" is one of the yoji-jukugo （四字熟語）. It means, "to be in love with one another."

English Word for Love

The Japanese sometimes use the English word "love" as well, though it is pronounced as "rabu （ラブ）" (since there is no "L" or "V" sound in Japanese). "A love letter" is usually called "rabu retaa （ラブレター）." "Rabu shiin （ラブシーン）" is "a love scene". Young people say "rabu rabu (ラブラブ, love love)" when they are very much in love.

Words That Sound Like Love

In Japanese, there are other words pronounced the same as "ai" and "koi". Since their meanings are distinctly different, there usually no confusion between them when used in the proper context.

With different kanji characters, "ai （藍）" means, "indigo blue," and "koi （鯉）" means, "carp." Carp streamers that are decorated on Children's Day (May 5th) are called " koi-nobori （鯉のぼり）."

Pronunciation

To learn how to say "I love you" in Japanese, check out Talking About Love.