I read somewhere online that it's improper to say 'I love you' in Japan. It says that they say 'I like you' instead...does anyone know why that is??

Wow thats a bit different. I wonder if this is true.

My Japanese teacher said that people feel uncomfortable being that direct with their opinions, so it's easier to say I like you instead. She said if some one said ai shiteru to her it would be wierd. So I think it's true more of the time.

Roppongi04 wrote:

My Japanese teacher said that people feel uncomfortable being that direct with their opinions, so it's easier to say I like you instead. She said if some one said ai shiteru to her it would be wierd. So I think it's true more of the time.

I agree...that term is very forthright and direct and is conventionally not used in colloquial speech....at least as I was taught....discretion is more the norm, given the cultural semantics.

*Black_Beauty* wrote:

I read somewhere online that it's improper to say 'I love you' in Japan. It says that they say 'I like you' instead...does anyone know why that is??

That is true. Though you will hear people say I Love You in J-pop and among brash young people.

You have to remember, traditional Japanese culture does things in a very indirect and restrained way compared to Western society. Realistically, one has to infer more based on action and phrasing.

A more typical way to express that you care about someone would be to says "suki desu" or more strongly "daisuki desu."

Similarly, if someone asks you "suki desu ka" or 'daisuki desu ka" and you're not interested in them, you could slam them with "chotto."
-PCM

very interesting stuff indeed ... i did not know ..

so ... suki desu ... is safe to say right !! .. sometimes u only have 1 chance u know ... .. not like on TV

pcmodem wrote:

That is true. Though you will hear people say I Love You in J-pop and among brash young people. You have to remember, traditional Japanese culture does things in a very indirect and restrained way compared to Western society. Realistically, one has to infer more based on action and phrasing. A more typical way to express that you care about someone would be to says "suki desu" or more strongly "daisuki desu." Similarly, if someone asks you "suki desu ka" or 'daisuki desu ka" and you're not interested in them, you could slam them with "chotto." -PCM

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

"do you like me?
"uh....a little...."


harsh, but funny when translated
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pcmodem wrote:

Similarly, if someone asks you "suki desu ka" or 'daisuki desu ka" and you're not interested in them, you could slam them with "chotto." -PCM

more like

"jodan ja nai wa yo........"

or in ghetto slang...."bitch, u trippin'"

Tu_triky wrote:

more like "jodan ja nai wa yo........" or in ghetto slang...."bitch, u trippin'"

LOL!!!
-PCM

pcmodem wrote:

Similarly, if someone asks you "suki desu ka" or 'daisuki desu ka" and you're not interested in them, you could slam them with "chotto." -PCM

Or you could really slam them and say iie...dai kirai

pcmodem wrote:

A more typical way to express that you care about someone would be to says "suki desu" or more strongly "daisuki desu."

what differential does the 'dai' part make?

Jimmi wrote:

what differential does the 'dai' part make?

If you really like someone, you would use "dai", or big.

Very interesting, I remember when I was watching "Boku dake no madonna" when Takizawa admitted he love Hasegawa all he said was "dai suki desu" I thought to myself "That's all, this writing really sucks!"

Suki isn't just "like"... it also goes for "love". Aishiteiru is something used for those important to you... more than anything, such as your children or your wife... or someone you love unrequitedly (sp).

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^ There you go, that sums it up right there...

Pretty much, Aishiteru is such a strong word that it's hard/embarassing to say... so, it's much easier to use "suki" instead...

I get lost when they say "suki" cause I dunnot if its I like you or its I love you...
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rule from my sensei: simply dont use aishiteru if you're not married to the person and/or if the person does not share your DNA sequence. hahaha. and i said to her: then how do you feel when your white boyfriend says it to you? (lol bc he did in front of us hahaha.)

edit: eesh starting to have whack english grammar

kuroyume wrote:

HAHAHAHAHAHA!! "do you like me? "uh....a little...." harsh, but funny when translated

depending on what follows the "chotto" (could be chottodake; chottomatteyo, etc. it could have the more meaning then a little.

but funny nevertheless (unless you are the recipient)
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lots of people just say "daisuki" which mean really like, close to love.

why don't say aishiteru? sometimes people say it, but not a lot. i think this does not just pertain to Japanese. lots of Chinese and Koreans don't say "i love you". i used to think it was good to say "i love you" to people you love all the time, like how Americans are always saying it. well coming from a family which does not say it, but then when something happened a few years ago, the emotions are much greater than the unspoken words. that's when i really knew how much i loved someone. i feel it much more inside than if i were to say those 3 words.