How to say "darling" in Japanese

• ダーリンCommon
  nounUsed as a direct address or name for a beloved partner, especially one's husband or boyfriend, mirroring the English 'darling'. Say it when calling out to or referring to your sweetheart.
  私は恋人こいびとを「ダーリン」と呼よびます。↗

  I call my sweetheart darling.
• 愛しいいとしいCommon
  i-adjectiveAn adjective meaning dear, beloved, or darling, describing someone you cherish with deep tenderness. It conveys longing, affectionate emotion in writing or speech rather than serving as a form of address.
  少女しょうじょは人形にんぎょうをいとしげに抱き締だきしめた。↗

  The girl squeezed her doll affectionately.
• かわいいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'darling' in the sense of cute, precious, or dear, as in a darling child or pet. It is really the everyday word for 'cute', so it suits that nuance rather than romantic address.
  私にとって子供こどもたちは目めの中なかに入いれてもいたくないほどかわいいのです。↗

  My children are very precious to me.

For 'darling' as a term of endearment for a romantic partner, 「ダーリン」 is the direct choice; 「愛しい」 expresses heartfelt affection as an adjective, and 「かわいい」 covers 'darling' in the sense of cute or dear.

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

• ダーリンdarling
• 愛しいいとしいlovely
• ダーdarling
• めんこいdear
• 愛しのいとしのdear
• 愛おしいいとおしいlovely
• かわいいdear
• かわゆいdear
• 寵児ちょうじdarling
• 憎らしいにくらしい(speaking ironically) darling
• 小憎らしいこにくらしい(speaking ironically) darling