How to say "romance" in Japanese

• 恋愛れんあいJLPT N1approx.Common
  suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveRomance in the sense of romantic love: the tender passion itself and the relationships it gives rise to. Typical when talking about falling in love, love affairs, or one's love life.
  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.
• ロマンCommon
  nounThe literary sense: a heroic or chivalric tale, such as the Arthurian romances; not the word for romantic love. Usually written in kana alone, it can also suggest a sense of dreams or adventure.
• ロマンスCommon
  nounA romance as a love affair or love story: the romantic involvement between two people, or a story built around it. Typical when describing a couple's affair or a film's romantic plot.

Use 恋愛 for romantic love as an emotion or relationship, 「ロマンス」 for a love affair or love story, and 「ロマン」 for the literary genre of heroic tales such as Arthurian romances, not for love.

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

• 恋愛れんあいlove
• ロマンromance (e.g. Arthurian romances)
• ロマンスromance
• 恋路こいじromance
• 騎士道物語きしどうものがたりromance (e.g. the Arthurian romances)
• 恋模様こいもようromance
• 浮き名うきなrumour (of a love affair)
• ラブロマンスlove story
• 艶事つやごとlove affair
• 情史じょうしlove story
• 濡れ事ぬれごとlove affair
• 恋愛小説れんあいしょうせつlove romance
• 恋愛ものれんあいものlove story
• その道そのみちlove affairs
• 粋筋いきすじlove affair
• 艶つやromance
• 色気いろけcharm