How to say "boyfriend" in Japanese

• 彼氏かれしCommon
  nounThe straightforward word for the romantic sense: a man you are dating or going out with. When you simply mean 'my boyfriend', this is the word to use.
  ただの男友達おとこともだちっていう立場たちばから彼氏かれしに昇格しょうかくさせてくれるかい？↗

  How about giving me a promotion from just-a-friend to boyfriend?
• 恋人こいびとJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounGender-neutral: it means 'lover; sweetheart' and can translate 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' alike, framing the person as the one you love rather than specifying a male partner.
  私は恋人こいびとを「ダーリン」と呼よびます。↗

  I call my sweetheart darling.
• ボーイフレンドCommon
  nounThe loanword for 'boyfriend'; it can also mean simply a male friend, so this word does not by itself imply romance — context tells you which sense is meant.
  私はボーイフレンドにぜんぜん不自由ふじゆうさせていません。↗

  I never want for a boyfriend.
• 彼かれJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounReally the pronoun 'he', it can also refer to one's boyfriend. For the sense 'boyfriend' itself it is seldom the word you want; use 彼氏 instead.
  私の前まえの彼かれはポルトガル育そだちでした。↗

  My ex-boyfriend was brought up in Portugal.

Use 彼氏 for a romantic boyfriend; 恋人 is a gender-neutral 'sweetheart/lover' that can mean boyfriend or girlfriend; 「ボーイフレンド」 can also mean a male friend; 彼 is really the pronoun 'he'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 彼氏かれしboyfriend
• 恋人こいびとlover
• ボーイフレンドboyfriend
• 彼ピッピかれピッピboyfriend
• 彼ピかれピboyfriend
• 好き同士すきどうしlover
• 交際相手こうさいあいてperson one is dating
• 彼かれboyfriend
• 男おとこmale lover
• いい人いいひと(one's) lover