How to say "love" in Japanese

• 愛あいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The broad noun for love: deep affection and care, for a partner, family, or people in general. Use it for love as a concept or feeling, where 恋愛 would be too narrowly romantic.
  愛あいの動うごきは不可解ふかかい。↗

  Love moves in mysterious ways.
• 愛するあいするJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb (irregular), transitive verbThe verb 'to love'. Use this when you want to say that you love someone — a partner, a family member — rather than name the feeling itself.
  ロメオはジュリエットが愛あいしている男おとこだ。↗

  Romeo is the man Juliet loves.
• 恋愛れんあいJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveRomantic love: love between partners, as romance or a relationship. Choose this when the topic is romance — falling in love, dating — rather than affection for family or friends.
  時ときは友情ゆうじょうを深ふかめるが、恋愛れんあいを弱よわめる。↗

  Time, which strengthens friendship, weakens love.
• ラブCommon
  nounThe English loanword. Seldom the word you want for 'love' in an ordinary sentence: it shows up mainly in fixed borrowed expressions and casual, playful speech, not as the everyday word for love.
• 愛情あいじょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe feeling of love or affection itself — the warmth you hold toward a partner, child, or parent. Use it when talking about how much love or affection someone feels or gives.
  とりわけ子供こどもたちは愛情あいじょうを必要ひつようとする。↗

  Above all, children need love.

Use 愛 for love as a broad concept or deep affection, 「愛する」 when you need the verb, 愛情 for the feeling of affection, 恋愛 for romantic love, and treat 「ラブ」 as a marginal loanword.

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

• 愛あいlove
• 愛するあいするto love
• 恋愛れんあいlove
• ラブlove
• 愛情あいじょうlove
• 愛好あいこうlove
• 愛着あいちゃくattachment (esp. to things)
• アムールlove
• 愛すあいすto love
• 慈愛じあいaffection (esp. parental)
• 情愛じょうあいaffection
• 恋するこいするto fall in love (with)
• 愛でるめでるto love
• 愛着あいじゃくattachment
• 好くすくto like
• 恋うこうto love
• リーベlove
• 恋慕れんぼlove
• アモーレlove
• 恋情れんじょうlove
• いとおしむto love
• いとしむto love
• 愛慕あいぼlove
• 慈しみいつくしみaffection
• 仁愛じんあいbenevolence
• 恋着れんちゃくattachment
• 恩愛おんあいkindness and affection
• 慈しむいつくしむto be affectionate towards
• 情合じょうあいaffection
• 恋こい(romantic) love
• 恋心こいごころ(feelings of) love
• 情じょうpassion
• 情けなさけaffection
• 好意こういgoodwill
• 思し召しおぼしめしfondness (for a significant other, etc.; often used teasingly)
• お情けおなさけaffection
• 色いろlove
• 思いおもいlove
• 艶つやromance
• 思うおもうto care (deeply) for