Translation guide
The English word 'romance' covers a range of meanings from love and romantic relationships to idealized stories and the Romance language family. This guide helps learners express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
Expressing the feeling of romantic love or a romantic relationship between people.
The most direct and common term for romantic love or a romantic relationship. It can refer to the emotion or the relationship itself.
They are in a romantic relationship.
I like romance novels.
A loanword from English, often used for a romantic story or a whirlwind romance. It can sound slightly more dramatic or story-like than 恋愛.
This is a wonderful romance.
Refers specifically to romantic love, often with a nuance of longing or passion. It is more emotional and less formal than 恋愛.
I'm in love with him.
Describing a situation, setting, or feeling that is romantic.
A loanword meaning 'romantic' in the sense of creating a loving or idealized atmosphere. Often used for dates, settings, or gestures.
It was a romantic dinner.
He is a romantic person.
The adjectival form of 恋愛, used to modify nouns. It means 'romantic' in a more literal sense related to love relationships.
a chance for romance
Referring to the genre of romantic fiction or films.
Referring to a sense of excitement, mystery, and idealization, often associated with adventure or a glamorous lifestyle.
Means 'adventure', but can capture the sense of exciting, romanticized experiences. Often used in phrases like 'romance of travel'.
Seeking the romance of travel.
A loanword from French 'roman', meaning a romantic ideal, dream, or epic tale. It conveys a sense of grand, often unattainable, romance or adventure.
Referring to the family of languages derived from Latin.
The standard term for Romance languages.
French is one of the Romance languages.
恋愛 (ren'ai) is the standard term for romantic love/relationships. ロマンス (romansu) often implies a story-like or dramatic romance. 恋 (koi) is more emotional and passionate, often used in phrases like 恋をする (to fall in love).
ロマンチック (romantic) only means 'romantic' in the emotional sense. For the language family, use ロマンス語 (romansu-go).
Their romance blossomed during the trip.
I love the romance of old castles.
ロマンス映画を見たい。
I want to watch a romance movie.
There is romance in space.