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Direct expressions of affection—even platonic affection—aren’t as common in Japan as they are in the United States, but people still say “I like you” in Japanese! Whether you want to say it to a friend or a crush (or if someone says it to you), understanding the linguistic nuances of verbally expressing affection as you learn Japanese is essential for clarity.
How to say ‘I like you’ in Japanese
The most common word for “like” in Japanese is suki (好き), so the simplest way to say “I like you” in Japanese is suki desu (好きです) by adding the “to be” verb, desu. However, suki can be translated as either “like” or “love” depending on the situation and context. To make sure your meaning is clear (as well as your intentions), pay attention to these linguistic cues.
1. Specify the subject for clarity
It’s very common in Japanese to drop pieces of a sentence (like the subject) if the speaker thinks the component is clear from context. However, when dealing with matters of “like” and “love,” you don’t want to leave room for doubt. If you think your meaning might be misconstrued, remember to specify exactly what it is that you like.
For example, imagine you’re at a Japanese festival with a longtime friend and you just bought a snack to share, exclaiming:
- Suki da yo!（好きだよ！）= I like [unspecified]!
Whether you mean the snack or the friend you’re inviting to share the snack with is unclear without more context. To be clear, state what (or who) it is you like at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the Japanese particle ga (が). If you want to say “you” but don’t know how to say “you” in Japanese, kimi (君) is generally a safe option.
- Takoyaki ga suki da yo!（たこ焼きが好きだよ！）= I like octopus dumplings!
- Kimi ga suki da yo!（君が好きだよ！）= I like you!
2. Add the modifier no koto for romance
To convey that you like someone romantically without coming on too strong, you can add no koto (のこと) after the person’s name before finishing the sentence with suki. On its own, no koto just means “things about,” but when used in this context, it emphasizes the strength of your affection. You don’t just like the person—you like the things about them!
- Ichirō no koto ga suki desu.（一郎のことが好きです。）= I like/love Ichirō.
3. Read the room for situational awareness
Before you tell someone you like them (plantonically or romantically), consider the situation and read the room. Is it Valentine’s Day? Your declaration is almost certainly going to sound romantic. Is your friend crying because they feel like nobody cares about them? Letting them know that you like them (even as a friend) will probably be a welcome reassurance!
- Suki desu yo.（好きですよ。）= I like you.
Other ways to ways to let someone know you like them
If you want to be a little more creative, here are three more Japanese phrases you can use to say “I like you.”
Watashi mo kimi no koto ga suki (I like you, too)
What do you do if someone tells you they like you? If the feeling is reciprocated, you can use the particle mo (も) after the word for “I” (which can be one of several Japanese pronouns).
- Kimi no koto ga suki desu.（君のことが好きです。）= I like/love you.
- Watashi mo kimi no koto suki desu yo.（私も君のことが好きですよ。）= I like/love you, too. (neutral)
- Boku mo kimi no koto ga suki da yo.（僕も君のことが好きだよ。）= I like/love you, too. (masculine)
- Atashi mo kimi no koto ga suki yo.（僕も君のことが好きよ。）= I like/love you, too. (feminine)
Hontō ni suki (I really like you)
To say “I really like you” in Japanese, just add the Japanese adverb hontō ni (本当に) before suki. This will almost always carry a romantic connotation.
- Ne, hontō ni suki yo.（ね、本当に好きよ。）= Hey, I really like you.
~to shite suki (I like you as a…)
Turning down someone’s feelings isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. To tell someone exactly how you like them, you can use to shite suki (として好き) and insert how you see them before the phrase.
- Kimi no koto ga suki da yo.（君のことが好きだよ。）= I love you.
- Gomen, tada no tomodachi to shite suki da kedo.（ごめん、ただの友達として好きだけど。）= I’m sorry, I like you as just a friend.
Key takeaways about saying ‘I like you’ in Japanese
Although explicitly stating fondness for someone is less common in Japanese culture than it is in American culture, knowing how to say “I like you” in Japanese is a useful expression. This is especially true given that physical gestures to convey the same thing (like friendly hugs or kisses on the cheek) are rare and not always welcome, as PDA is against typical Japanese etiquette. Remember these three things when telling someone you like them:
- To say “I like you” in Japanese, you can say suki desu (or another conjugation of desu).
- The word suki can mean “like” or “love” depending on the situation and context.
- For clarity, include the thing or person you like in the complete sentence.
