Translation guide
Expressing deep love, worship, or admiration in Japanese depends heavily on context—whether it's religious worship, romantic devotion, or intense admiration for a person or thing.
Expressing adoration toward a god, deity, or sacred object.
The standard term for religious worship or adoration of a deity. Used in formal and written contexts.
彼らは神を崇拝している。
They adore God.
Refers to the act of worship, often in a church or temple setting. More about the ritual than the feeling.
日曜日に教会で礼拝する。
They worship at church on Sundays.
Expressing adoration for a romantic partner, often with a sense of devotion or putting them on a pedestal.
Literally 'love from the heart,' this conveys deep, sincere adoration in a romantic context.
彼女を心から愛している。
I adore her with all my heart.
Slang for being head over heels or completely smitten. Conveys intense adoration, often used by younger speakers.
彼は彼女にぞっこんなんだ。
He's totally adoring her.
Means being madly in love or doting on someone. Slightly old-fashioned but still used.
彼は奥さんにベタ惚れだ。
He adores his wife.
Expressing adoration for an idol, celebrity, or someone you look up to greatly.
Means admiration or longing, often for someone you aspire to be like. Commonly used for celebrities or role models.
彼女はその歌手に憧れている。
She adores that singer.
Literally 'big fan,' this is a natural way to say you adore a celebrity or public figure.
Idol/fandom slang for one's favorite member or person you support and adore. Very common in pop culture.
彼が私の推しです。
He's the one I adore.
Expressing that you adore an object, food, hobby, etc.
The English word 'adoration' often sounds overly dramatic or religious if translated literally into Japanese. Use context-appropriate expressions like 大好き or 憧れ instead of trying to force a single word.
崇拝 is for religious worship or extreme idolization (sometimes negative like cultish). 憧れ is for healthy admiration or longing, often for someone you respect.
子犬は飼い主を大好きそうに見つめた。
The puppy gazed at its owner with adoration.
Using 大好き to convey the dog's adoration naturally.
I adore that actor.
I adore this cake.