愛してる！Aishiteru! I love you! Talking about Relationships in Japanese

In this post we’re going to learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about relationships in Japanese. First we’ll cover basic vocabulary that you can use to talk about love and relationships. Next, we’ll move on to expressions you can use to talk about someone who’s caught your eye and who you might be interested in getting to know a bit better. After that we’ll look at some vocabulary you can use to talk about taking someone on a date. Then we’ll move on to vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about longer term relationships and marriage. Of course not all relationships end well, so we’ll also see some expressions that are related to not-to-happy relationships and break ups. Finally, we’ll end on a positive note and talk about some nice romantic Valentine’s vibes.

Basic Vocabulary for Love and Relationships in Japanese

First, let’s start with some basics.

• 愛してる。
  Aishiteru.
  I love you.
• 愛してる？
  Aishiteru?
  Do you love me?
• 彼女が好きです。
  Kanojo ga suki desu.
  I love her.
• 彼が好きです。
  Kare ga suki desu.
  I love him.

• 私の｛彼氏・彼女｝です。
  Watashi no {kareshi/kanojo} desu.
  This is my boyfriend/girlfriend.
• ｛夫・妻｝です。
  {Otto/Tsuma} desu.
  This is my husband/wife.
• ハッピーバレンタインデー!
  Happii barentain dee!
  Happy Valentine’s Day!
• 結婚記念日おめでとう。
  Kekkon kinenbi omedetou.
  Happy Anniversary.
• あなたに会えなくて寂しい。
  Anata ni aenakute sabishii.
  I miss you.

Talking about Someone You’re Interested In

Next let’s see some vocabulary you can use if someone has caught your eye.

• ｛彼・彼女｝がとても好きです。
  {Kare/Kanojo} ga totemo suki desu.
  I really like him/her.
• とても｛かっこいい・きれい｝です。
  Totemo {kakkoii/kirei} desu.
  He is/She is really good-looking.
• きれいな人です。
  Kireina hito desu.
  She’s beautiful.
• かっこいい人です。
  Kakkoii hito desu.
  He’s handsome.
• 面白い人です。
  Omoshiroi hito desu.
  He is/She is funny/interesting.
• 頭がいい人です。
  Atama ga ii hito desu.
  He is/She is smart.

Talking about Dating and Relationships in Japanese

Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to dating. Maybe there’s a mutual attraction? One way to find out is to ask.

• 晩ご飯を食べませんか。
  Bangohan o tabemasen ka.
  Do you want to have dinner with me?
• デートをしませんか。
  Deeto o shimasen ka.
  Do you want to go out with me?
• {お茶をし・飲み}に行きませんか。
  {Ocha o shi/nomi} ni ikimasen ka.
  Do you want to have tea/drinks with me?
• 晩ご飯を食べに行きましょう。
  Bangohan o tabe ni ikimashou.
  Let’s have dinner together.
• 色々と話ができてよかったです。
  Iroiro to hanashi ga dekite yokatta desu.
  I really enjoyed talking with you.
• また出掛けませんか。
  Mata dekakemasen ka.
  Do you want to go out again some time?
• また会いたいです。
  Mata aitai desu.
  I want to see you again.
• キスしたい。
  Kisu shitai.
  I want to kiss you.

Talking about Long-Term Relationships in Japanese

Next let’s move on to longer term relationships. If you’re in a long-term relationship, you might want to know how to say:

• 付き合ってどのぐらいですか。
  Tsukiatte dono gurai desu ka.
  How long have you two been together?
• 付き合って一年になります。
  Tsukiatte ichinen ni narimasu.
  We’ve been together for a year.
• どうやって知り合いましたか。
  Douyatte shiriaimashita ka.
  How did you two meet?
• ｛職場・学校｝で知り合いました。
  {Shokuba/Gakkou} de shiriaimashita.
  We met at work/school.
• ｛パーティー・バー｝で知り合いました。
  {Paatii/Baa} de shiriaimashita.
  We met at a party/bar.
• ネットで知り合いました。
  Netto de shiriaimashita.
  We met online.
• ｛友達・両親｝の紹介で知り合いました。
  {Tomodachi/Ryoushin} no shoukai de shiriaimashita.
  Our friends/parents introduced us.
• 付き合って｛一年に・二年に・ずいぶん長く｝なります。
  Tsukiatte {ichinen ni/ninen ni/zuibun nagaku} narimasu.
  We’ve been together for a year/two years/a long time.
• 一緒に住んでいます。
  Issho ni sunde imasu.
  We live together.
• まだ結婚していません。
  Mada kekkonshite imasen.
  We’re not married yet.
• 結婚したいですが、まだできる状況ではありません。
  Kekkon shitai desu ga, mada dekiru joukyou dewa arimasen.
  We want to get married, but we’re not ready.

Talking about Marriage

Of course we can’t talk about vocabulary for relationships in Japanese without talking about marriage. If you decide that you want to get married, you might want to say:

• 結婚してください。
  Kekkon shite kudasai.
  Will you marry me?
• 結婚しよう。
  Kekkon shiyou.
  Let’s get married.
• 婚約しました。
  Kon’yaku shimashita.
  We’re engaged.
• 私の婚約指輪です。
  Watashi no kon’yaku yubiwa desu.
  This is my engagement ring.
• 私の婚約者です。
  Watashi no kon’yakusha desu.
  This is my fiancé / fiancée.
• 結婚式の準備をしています。
  Kekkonshiki no junbi o shite imasu.
  We’re planning our wedding.
• 簡素で小さい結婚式をします。
  Kanso de chiisai kekkonshiki o shimasu.
  Our wedding will be simple and small.
• 新婦はきれいです。
  Shinpu wa kirei desu.
  The bride is beautiful.
• 新郎は素敵です。
  Shinrou wa suteki desu.
  The groom is handsome.
• 結婚式はきれいでした。
  Kekkonshiki wa kirei deshita.
  The wedding was beautiful.
• 夫です。
  Otto desu.
  This is my husband.
• 妻です。
  Tsuma desu.
  This is my wife.
• 結婚してどのぐらいですか。
  Kekkon shite dono　gurai desu ka.
  How long have you been married?
• 今日は結婚記念日です。
  Kyou wa kekkon kinenbi desu.
  Today is our wedding anniversary.

Talking about Difficulties in Relationships in Japanese

Next let’s move on to less happy vocabulary. Hopefully your relationship is long and strong and full of happiness. But, sometimes things just don’t work out.

• もう別れました。
  Mou wakaremashita.
  We’re not together anymore.
• 一緒にいて幸せではありません。
  Issho ni ite shiawase dewa arimasen.
  They’re not happy together.
• いつも喧嘩をしています。
  Itsumo kenka o shite imasu.
  They argue all the time.
• 大喧嘩をしています。
  Oogenka o shite imasu.
  They’re having a big fight.
• 浮気をしました。
  Uwaki o shimashita.
  He cheated/She cheated.
• 浮気をしています。
  Uwaki o shite imasu.
  He is/She is having an affair.
• 別れたいです。
  Wakaretai desu.
  I want to break up with you.
• 離婚したいです。
  Rikon shitai desu.
  I want to get a divorce.
• 別れました。
  Wakaremashita.
  They broke up.
• 離婚しました。
  Rikon shimashita.
  They got divorced.

ハッピーバレンタインデー Happii barentai dee Happy Valentine’s Day

Finally, let’s end on a good note and talk about the romance of Valentine’s Day.

• 花束です。
  Hanataba desu.
  These flowers are for you.
• チョコレートです。
  Chokoreeto desu.
  These chocolates are for you.
• ロマンチックなディナーをしましょう。
  Romanchikku na dinaa o shimashou.
  Let’s have a romantic dinner.
• あなたは私にとってとても大切な人です。
  Anata wa watashi ni totte totemo taisetsu na hito desu.
  You’re very important to me.
• 一生あなたといたいです。
  Isshou anata to itai desu.
  I want to spend my life with you.
• いつもあなたのことを考えています。
  Itsumo anata no koto o kangaete imasu.
  I think about you all the time.

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