What is the meaning of aitai in Japanese?

“I miss you” is one of those phrases that is difficult to express in Japanese.

I mean, don’t get me wrong–they do have similar phrases, and Japanese people are completely capable of expressing the concept of missing someone.

But something about the alternatives to the classic English “I miss you” just never felt all that satisfying to me.

That said, let’s take a look at what we have to work with…

会いたいあいたい = I miss you…?

会いたい (aitai) is probably the most common way that “I miss you” gets translated into Japanese.

Literally it means “I want to see you.” Well, perhaps even more literally it means, “I want to meet with you,” but I think that we can agree that those have substantially different connotations in English.

So, if you were going to text your lover “I miss you,” but you want to say it in Japanese, then 会いたい (aitai) is probably the phrase for you.

There is also a Korean drama that, while translated in English as “Missing You,” becomes 『会いたい』(aitai) in Japanese. Here are the English and Japanese Wikipedia pages to prove it!

恋しいこいしい = I miss you…?

First thing to get out of the way with 恋しい (koishii) is that you can only say it if it’s impossible to meet with the person you miss (i.e. the person you’re 恋しい [koishii] for). So you can’t exactly yell it across the house to your lover.

This makes it slightly different than 会いたい (aitai), which does not necessarily mean that you are incapable for meeting with [missed person].

Another thing that sets 恋しい (koishii) apart is that it’s totally okay to say it about a place or an object.

For example…

アメリカのピザが恋しいな～
amerika no piza ga koishii na~
I miss American pizza!

If, on the other hand, you said…

アメリカのピザに会いたいな～
amerika no piza ni aitai na~
I miss [want to meet with] American pizza.

Then it sounds like maybe you and American pizza used to have an intimate relationship or something. I don’t know. Maybe you did. I’m not judging.

寂しいさびしい／さみしい = I’m lonely (because I miss you)…?

Technically, 寂しい (sabishii / samishii) means “I’m lonely.” However, Japanese people say it a lot to one another when they mean to say “I’m lonely (because I’m not with you.” In a way, this makes it a kind of substitute for “I miss you,” also.

(Side note: either pronunciation of this word is fine: 寂しい = さびしい / さみしい = sabishii / samishii )

Interestingly, 寂しい (sabishii / samishii) is the only word we’ve seen before that has automatic “I miss you” popups in Line:

This just validates our assumption that a lot of people are typing 寂しい (sabishii / samishii), “I’m lonely,” when really they mean “I miss you,” or “I’m lonely (because you’re not here).”

淋しい = Seriously, I’m lonely (because I miss you)…?

I asked Rei the difference between the two different kanji that are used to write this word: 寂 and 淋.

We talked about it for a minute and decided that the second kanji, 淋, has a graver connotation. As in, “I’m alone, and it’s not OK.” If you’re just being a whiny lover, then I’d use 寂 in your “I’m lonely (because you’re not here)” message.

Have I sufficiently confused you?

Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure that Japanese people aren’t too clear on how to say “I miss you” in Japanese, either. If you look at these example sentences on Weblio, for instance, you’ll see a liberal use of the formations discussed above for expressing the concept of “missing someone.”

Be careful not to rely on the translations in dictionaries too much, though. If you’re trying to find the natural, conversational way to express something in Japanese, a dictionary may very well sabotage you. I talk about this at length in the Hacking Japanese Supercourse.

Good luck with your Japanese studies!

Niko

p.s. Cool kids are all studying this way…

Romaji Hide

This site uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC dictionary files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and are used in conformance with the Group's licence.

会いたい (aitai) is probably the most common way that “I miss you” gets translated into Japanese. Literally it means “I want to see you.” Well, perhaps even more literally it means, “I want to meet with you,” but I think that we can agree that those have substantially different connotations in English.

What is aitai desu in English?

i want to see you.

Why is Japan called Japan Not Nippon?

The origin of the name Japan is not certain, but researchers say it probably came from the Malayan ″Japung″ or the Chinese ″Riben,″ meaning roughly land of the rising sun. Historians say the Japanese called their country Yamato in its early history, and they began using Nippon around the seventh century.

What is Aitakute?

“Aitakute Aitakute” (会いたくて 会いたくて, I Miss You, I Miss You) is a song by Japanese pop singer Kana Nishino.

What is Genki desu ka?

O genki desu ka is a phrase in Japanese that means “How are you?” In many Japanese learning textbooks – お元気ですか is one of the first phrases that you will learn. This is true for our Japanese lessons as well.

How do you say I miss you in different ways?

Ways to Say I MISS YOU in English

1. I hope I see you again.
2. I long for you.
3. I yearn for you.
4. I miss your smile.
5. You crossed my mind.
6. I’ve been thinking of you.
7. I feel sad without you.
8. I wish you were here.

How do you say sorry in Japanese politely?

You can make it more formal by saying “gomen-nasai” ごめんなさい or more friendly with “gomen-ne” ごめんね. “Warui warui” 悪い悪い or “my bad” is also a very casual way to say sorry. “Sumimasen” すみません, which can be translated as “excuse me”, also works as an apology depending on how it is used.

What is your name in Japanese?

Onamae is “your name” or “the name,” and Anata is “you” or “your.” So, you can say: Anata no onamae wa? Let’s try it. Anata no onamae wa?

Why is Japan so clean?

“If an individual is afflicted by kegare, it can bring harm to society as a whole,” explained Noriaki Ikeda, assistant Shinto priest at Hiroshima’s Kanda Shrine. “So it is vital to practice cleanliness. This purifies you and helps avoid bringing calamities to society. That is why Japan is a very clean country.”

What does Japan call themselves?

Nippon
Japan in Japanese is “Nippon” or “Nihon” while in English it is called “Japan”. In most languages around the world, it is called a name similar to “Japan” (for example, “Japon” in French or “Giappon” in Italian).

How do you reply to konichiwa?

Fellow Japanese customers will reply with silence, but if this makes you feel awkward, a reply of “ohayo gozaimasu” (good morning) or “konnichiwa” (good day) or “konbanwa” (good evening).

What is the meaning of Aitai in Japanese?

Definition Serious; seriously マジ (maji),まじ (maji),まぢ (madi) ⇒Same Meaning (Slang) ・マジで？ ？ おまえすげーよ！ Majide?? Omae Sugeyo! “Seriously? You are … Tokyo Noodles Matcha Takoyaki Kyoto DAISO Chocolate Tachigui Donburi Yakitori Kamakura Sushi Kantai Collection Love Live!

Who is the singer of Kaikai Kitan anime?

Kaikai Kitan?) is the first opening theme song of the anime adaptation. It was composed and performed by Eve.

What’s the difference between ” Koko ” and ” Kara “?

“Koko” is a general word for “here.” It could be used for a building, seat, area, location, etc. “De” is simply a particle that denotes location, much like “at” in English. At home, at the park, etc. “Ii” means good. “Kara,” in this context, is most likely being used as “from.” You can use this…