恋愛|れんあいren'ai[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectivelove; romance; tender passion; emotion; affections
    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.
Conjugation
Dictionary form恋愛する(れんあいする)
Polite (masu)恋愛します(れんあいします)
Negative (nai)恋愛しない(れんあいしない)
polite (masen)恋愛しません(れんあいしません)
classical zu / nu恋愛せず・恋愛せぬ(れんあいせず・れんあいせぬ)
Past (ta)恋愛した(れんあいした)
polite (mashita)恋愛しました(れんあいしました)
Past negative (nakatta)恋愛しなかった(れんあいしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)恋愛しませんでした(れんあいしませんでした)
Te form恋愛して(れんあいして)
Potential恋愛できる(れんあいできる)
Passive恋愛される(れんあいされる)
Causative恋愛させる(れんあいさせる)
Causative passive恋愛させられる(れんあいさせられる)
Conditional (ba)恋愛すれば(れんあいすれば)
tara恋愛したら(れんあいしたら)
Volitional恋愛しよう(れんあいしよう)
polite (mashou)恋愛しましょう(れんあいしましょう)
Imperative恋愛しろ(れんあいしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym愛情あいじょうNeutralMeans love or affection, as in 「親の愛情」; not limited to lovers.
  • Synonym恋するこいするNeutralVerb for falling in love, as in 「恋する乙女」; carries a romantic flavor.
  • Synonym色恋いろこいNeutralRefers to male-female love affairs, as in 「色恋沙汰」; rather coarse. 「恋愛」 is the neutral, more formal word.
  • Synonym恋慕れんぼWrittenWritten word for yearning love, as in 「横恋慕」; mostly literary. 「恋愛」 is the everyday term.
  • RelatedロマンスNeutralLoanword for a love affair with a romantic glow, as in 「職場のロマンス」.
  • Related愛するあいするNeutralBroad verb meaning to love, as in 「家族を愛する」; covers far more than romantic love.
  • Related慕うしたうNeutralMeans to yearn for or look up to someone, as in 「先生を慕う」; can also mean to follow after them.
  • Related情事じょうじNeutralRefers to a private or illicit affair, often with a sexual element.
  • Related愛すあいすWrittenOlder godan form of 「愛する」; leans written and survives mostly in negatives and imperatives.
  • Related恋愛関係れんあいかんけいNeutralMeans a romantic relationship itself, as in 「恋愛関係にある」; mostly used in explanations.
  • Related恋い慕うこいしたうWrittenWritten verb for deeply missing and yearning for someone; literary in tone.
  • Related濡れ事ぬれごとNeutralOld-fashioned word for a love affair, or a love scene in kabuki.
  • RelatedいとおしむWrittenWritten verb for cherishing something dear, as in 「命を愛おしむ」; not limited to romance.
  • Related愛慕あいぼWrittenWritten word for feelings of adoration; rare.
  • Related艶事つやごとWrittenWritten word for a glamorous or illicit love affair; rare.
  • Related好くすくNeutralMeans simply to like or be fond of; most often seen in the passive 「人に好かれる」.
  • Related惚れ込むほれこむNeutralMeans to be deeply captivated, as in 「才能に惚れ込む」; not limited to romance.
  • Related慈しむいつくしむNeutralMeans to cherish and treat tenderly, as in 「子を慈しむ」; the emphasis is on tender care.
  • Related色事いろごとNeutralCoarse word for male-female affairs, often implying physical relations; 「恋愛」 is the neutral term covering attraction and dating.
  • Related恋着れんちゃくWrittenWritten word for obsessive attachment; rare.
  • Related恋路こいじWrittenWritten word for the course of a romance, as in 「人の恋路を邪魔する」.
  • Related女色じょしょくWrittenWritten word for a woman's charms or affairs with women; mostly found in classical texts.
  • Related色恋沙汰いろこいざたNeutralRefers to romantic goings-on between men and women, usually with a negative nuance such as love troubles.
  • Antonym憎悪ぞうおNeutralMeans hatred or loathing; the opposite of 「恋愛」 as a feeling of tender attraction.
  • Antonym嫌悪けんおNeutralMeans disgust or aversion; the opposite of the attraction of 「恋愛」.

Use 「恋愛」 for romantic love and dating, as in 「恋愛結婚」 or 「恋愛映画」; it also covers one-sided love. For love not limited to lovers, say 「愛情」; the verb is 「恋する」, and a romance with a dreamy feel is 「ロマンス」. For loving broadly, use 「愛する」. The opposites are 「憎悪」 and 「嫌悪」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 特定とくていの相手あいてに恋焦こいこがれ一緒いっしょに居いたいと思おもう感情かんじょう。または、そのような感情かんじょうを持もって交際こうさいすること。
  2. 特定とくていの相手あいてと恋愛れんあい感情かんじょうを持もって交際こうさいする。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

Say it right, write it right

Core lookup works fully offline, with cloud pronunciation and one-tap save & review. Free, no sign-up.

Free downloadWindowsFree downloadmacOSDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
MobileiOS / Android

Android

QR code for the Google Play pageGet it on Google Play

Scan it with your Android phone to install, or search for “Tomoshi” on Google Play.

iOS

QR code for the App Store pageDownload on the App Store

Scan it with your iPhone camera to install, or search for “Tomoshi” in the App Store.

Install the browser extensionLook words up on any web page · Chrome / Edge / Safari

Screenshot of a Tomoshi lookup resultScreenshot of Tomoshi lookup results on a phone

Windows macOS Chrome / Edge / Safari extension iOS / Android