Translation guide
Expressing romantic or emotional attachment to someone in Japanese, ranging from casual liking to deep love.
To say you have romantic feelings for someone, often in a developing or unspoken way.
The most common and direct way to say you like someone romantically. Can be used in confessions or to describe feelings.
彼のことが好きだ。
I have feelings for him.
ずっと前から好きでした。
I've had feelings for you for a long time.
To express stronger, deeper feelings, closer to love.
The strongest expression of love. Used in serious relationships, but can feel heavy or dramatic in casual contexts.
君を愛している。
I have deep feelings for you. / I love you.
Stronger than 好き, but less intense than 愛している. Commonly used to express deep affection without the weight of 'love.'
To describe having feelings that are not openly expressed.
Specifically means to have a one-sided crush or unrequited feelings.
彼に片思いをしている。
I have feelings for him, but it's one-sided.
The English phrase 'have feelings for' does not translate directly into a single Japanese expression. Instead, use context-appropriate phrases like 好き or 気になる. A literal translation like 感情を持っている sounds unnatural and is not used for romantic feelings.
好き is the default for expressing romantic interest and is used in confessions. 愛している is much heavier and often reserved for long-term, committed relationships. Using 愛している too early can feel overwhelming.
好きです。付き合ってください。
I have feelings for you. Please go out with me.
結婚して10年、今でも愛している。
We've been married 10 years, and I still have deep feelings for you.
Means someone is on your mind in a romantic or curious way. Softer than 好き, often used when feelings are just starting.
最近、あの人が気になる。
Lately, I've been having feelings for that person.
A more formal or literary way to say 'have romantic feelings.' Often used in writing or serious discussions.
彼女に恋愛感情を抱いている。
I have romantic feelings for her.
Literally 'to hold favorable feelings.' Can be romantic or platonic depending on context, but often implies romantic interest.
彼に好意を持っています。
I have feelings for him.
あなたのことが大好きです。
I have strong feelings for you.
A poetic way to say you harbor feelings for someone, often unrequited or from afar.
彼女に密かに想いを寄せている。
I secretly have feelings for her.
Means to have hidden or secret feelings. Often used in narratives.
彼女には秘めた思いがある。
She has hidden feelings for someone.