Talking About Love

NiNjA_cHaN25 · 06-12-2007, 08:49 AM

One of the most popular phrases in any language is probably "I love you." In Japanese, "love" is "ai " and the verb form "to love" is "aisuru" "I love you" can be literally translated as "aishite imasu" "Aishiteru" "aishiteru yo" or "aishiteru wa (female speech)" is normally used in conversation. However, the Japanese don't say "I love you" as often as Western people do, because of cultural differences. I am not surprised if some Japanese say that they have never used these expressions in their life.

The Japanese generally don't express their love openly. They believe that love can be expressed by manners. When they put their feelings into words, it is preferred to use the phrase "suki desu". It literally means, "to like" "Suki da" "suki dayo" (male speech) or "suki yo (female speech)" are more colloquial expressions. There are many variations of this phrase, including regional dialects (hogen). "Suki yanen" is one of the versions in Kansai-ben (the Kansai dialect). Since the phrase can also mean "I love it," and because of the popularity of Kansai-ben, it is used as the name of an instant noodle soup product.

If you like somebody or something very much, "dai (literally means, big)" can be added as the prefix, and say "daisuki desu"

There is another word to describe "love" which is "koi" The kanji character for "kokoro (heart)" is included as part of both kanji characters. Compare the kanji characters below (From left "kokoro," "ai" and "koi").

Both "ai" and "koi" can roughly be translated as "love" in English. However, they have a slightly different nuance.

"Koi" is a love for the opposite sex, or a longing feeling for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love." While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love. "Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love. Here are some lines that explain them well:

Koi is always wanting. Ai is always giving.

The words including "ai"

aidokusho
= (one's favorite book)

aijin
= (lover)

aijou
= (love, affection)

aikenka
= (a dog lover)

aikokushin
= (patriotism)

aisha
= (one's cherished car)

aiyousuru
= (to use habitually)

boseiai
= (mother's love, maternal affection)

hakuai
= (philanthropy)

The words including "koi"

hatsukoi
= (first love)

hiren
= (sad love)

koibito
= (one's boyfriend/girlfriend)

koibumi
= (love letter)

koigataki
= (a rival in love)

koi ni ochiru
= (to fall in love with)

koisuru
= (to be in love with)

renai
= (love)

shitsuren
= (disappointed love)

"Renai" is written with the kanji characters of both "koi" and "ai." This word means, "romantic love." "Renai-kekkon" is a "love marriage," which is the opposite of "miai-kekkon (arranged marriage)." "Renai-shousetsu" is "a love story" or "a romance novel." The title of the movie, "As Good As It Gets" was translated as "Renai-shousetuska (A Romance Novel Writer)

Here are some proverbs that include "koi."

Koi ni shishou nashi.
= Love needs no teaching.

Koi ni jouge no hedate nashi.
= Love makes all men equal.

Koi wa shian no hoka.
= Love is without reason.

koi wa moumoku.
= Love is blind.

Koi wa nesshi yasuku same yasui.
= Love becomes deep easily,but cools down soon.

"Soushi-souai" is one of the yoji-jukugo. It means, "to be in love with one another."

The Japanese sometimes use the English word "love" as well, though it is pronounced as "rabu" (since there is no "L" or "V" sound in Japanese). "A love letter" is usually called "rabu retaa" "Koibumi" sounds a bit dated, and it is more a literary word than a conversational word. "Rabu shiin" is "a love scene". Young people say "rabu rabu (love love)" when they are very much in love.

"Ai" can be used as a female name. Japan's new royal baby was named Princess Aiko, which is written with the kanji characters for "love" and "child"

There is another word pronounced thesame as "ai" and "koi". Since their meanings are distinctly different, I don't think there is any confusion between them when used in the proper context. With different kanji characters, "ai" means, "indigo blue," and "koi" means, "carp."@Carp streamers that are decorated on Children's Day (May 5th) are called "koi-nobori"

credits to Mae~chan... ^^

Eiko · 06-18-2007, 03:06 PM

interesting