Phase 6 · 10 min

Sweet things to say

What actually lands, and what sounds like anime

Japanese affection is understated. 愛してる (I love you) is heavy and rare; couples can go years without it. What works is noticing things, saying you missed her, saying you feel at ease with her. Say these in a normal voice, not a performance.

The everyday ones (use often)

daisuki

I love you / I really like you.

The standard 'I love you' between couples. Add her name in front.

aitakatta

I missed you. (lit. I wanted to see you)

Say it when you meet after time apart. 会いたい = I miss you (now).

issho ni iru to ochitsuku

I feel calm when I'm with you.

This one lands. 落ち着く = to settle, feel at ease.

kyou mo kawaii ne

You're cute today too.

も = also/too. Light, daily.

sono kamigata, niatteru yo

That hairstyle suits you.

似合う = to suit. Noticing specifics beats generic praise.

arigatou, tasukatta

Thanks, that really helped.

助かる = to be saved/helped. Warmer than plain thanks.

muri shinaide ne

Don't push yourself too hard.

Care, Japanese style. Say it when she's busy or tired.

otsukaresama. kyou mo ganbatta ne

Good work today. You did your best again.

Evening line after her workday.

yukkuri yasunde ne

Rest well.

ki o tsukete ne

Take care / be safe.

When she leaves. 気をつけて = watch out for yourself.

The bigger ones (use rarely, mean them)

sakiko ga ite kurete ureshii

I'm glad you're here / in my life.

てくれて = 'doing it for me'. Thanks her for existing, without drama.

korekara mo yoroshiku ne

Let's keep going together. (lit. please keep treating me well from now on)

Anniversaries, after a fight, moving in. Very Japanese, very warm.

zutto issho ni itai

I want to be with you always.

nihon ni kite yokatta. sakiko ni aeta kara

I'm glad I came to Japan. Because I got to meet you.

てよかった = I'm glad that …; から = because (at the end).

aishiteru

I love you. (heavy)

Save it. When you do say it, say it once and quietly.

Avoid

君 (kimi) for 'you' sounds like a song lyric. 俺 (ore) for 'I' is fine casually but not with her parents. Direct translations of English compliments ('you are beautiful' = 美しい) sound like a film subtitle; use かわいい or きれい instead. Skip anime lines like 好きだよ、ずっと前から: she will laugh, not in the good way.

اردو

From Urdu

Think of the Urdu difference between محبت کرتا ہوں (heavy, rare) and تم اچھی لگتی ہو / تمہاری یاد آئی (light, daily). 愛してる is the first; 大好き and 会いたかった are the second. Japanese, like Urdu, prefers the second in everyday life.

ไทย

From Thai

Thai couples say รักนะ freely; Japanese couples do not say 愛してる freely. 大好き is closer to the weight of รักนะ. คิดถึง = 会いたい, and it carries the same warmth.

Check yourself

1 / 6

16 cards

Add them to spaced repetition

Cards in this lesson (16)

daisuki

I love you (everyday)

aitakatta

I missed you

aitai

I miss you / I want to see you

issho ni iru to ochitsuku

I feel calm with you

kawaii

cute

kirei

pretty / beautiful

niatteru

it suits you

tasukatta

that really helped

muri shinaide ne

don't push yourself

ganbatta ne

you did your best

yukkuri yasunde ne

rest well

ki o tsukete ne

take care / be safe

ureshii

happy / glad

korekara mo yoroshiku ne

let's keep going together

zutto issho ni itai

I want to be with you always

aishiteru

I love you (heavy, rare)

Next lesson

Daily couple talk

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