Both "ai (愛)" and "koi (恋)" can be roughly translated as "love" in English. However, they have a slightly different nuance in Japanese. To find out more, we will take a look at words containing "ai" or "koi". To learn how to say "I love you" in Japanese, check out my article, "Talking About Love."
Words containing "Ai (愛)" | Words containing "Koi (恋)" |
---|---|
愛読書 aidokusho one's favorite book | 初恋 hatsukoi first love |
愛人 aijin lover | 悲恋 hiren sad love |
愛情 aijou love; affection | 恋人 koibito one's boyfriend/girlfriend |
愛犬家 aikenka a dog lover | 恋文 koibumi love letter |
愛国心 aikokushin patriotism | 恋敵 koigataki a rival in love |
愛車 aisha one's cherished car | 恋に落ちる koi ni ochiru to fall in love with |
愛用する aiyousuru to use habitually | 恋する koisuru to be in love with |
母性愛 boseiai mother's love, maternal affection | 恋愛 renai love |
博愛 hakuai philanthropy | 失恋 shitsuren disappointed love |
"Koi" is a love for the opposite sex, or a feeling of longing for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love." While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love.
"Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love. Here are some lines that explain them well:
Koi is always wanting. Ai is always giving.
"Renai (恋愛)" is written with the kanji characters of both "koi" and "ai." This word means, "romantic love." "Renai-kekkon (恋愛結婚)" is a "love marriage," which is the opposite of "miai-kekkon (見合い結婚, arranged marriage)." "Renai-shousetsu (恋愛小説)" is "a love story" or "a romance novel." The title of the movie, "As Good As It Gets" was translated as "Renai-shousetuska (恋愛小説家, A Romance Novel Writer)."
Here are some proverbs that include "koi."
恋に師匠なし Koi ni shishou nashi | Love needs no teaching. |
恋に上下の隔てなし Koi ni jouge no hedate nashi | Love makes all men equal. |
恋は思案のほか Koi wa shian no hoka | Love is without reason. |
恋は盲目 Koi wa moumoku. | Love is blind. |
恋は熱しやすく冷めやすい。 Koi wa nesshi yasuku same yasui | Love becomes deep easily, but cools down soon. |
"Soushi-souai (相思相愛)" is one of the yoji-jukugo (四字熟語). It means, "to be in love with one another."
The Japanese sometimes use the English word "love" as well, though it is pronounced as "rabu (ラブ)" (since there is no "L" or "V" sound in Japanese). "A love letter" is usually called "rabu retaa (ラブレター)." "Koibumi (恋文)" sounds a bit dated, and it is more of a literary word than a conversational word.
"Rabu shiin (ラブシーン)" is "a love scene". Young people say "rabu rabu (ラブラブ, love love)" when they are very much in love.
"Ai (愛)" can be used as a female name. Japan's new royal baby was named Princess Aiko, which is written with the kanji characters for "love (愛)" and "child (子)." Click here to read more about Princess Aiko. However, "koi (恋)" is rarely used as a name.
There are another words pronounced the same as "ai" and "koi". Since their meanings are distinctly different, I don't think there is any confusion between them when used in the proper context. With different kanji characters, "ai (藍)" means, "indigo blue," and "koi (鯉)" means, "carp." Carp streamers that are decorated on Children's Day (May 5th) are called "koi-nobori (鯉のぼり)."