English–Japanese

“dear” in Japanese

Japanese

Pronunciation

Romajiitoshii

Example

その笑顔が愛しいです。so no e gao ga ito shi i de su

That smile is dear to me.

Illustration for 愛しい (dear)

How to say “dear” in Japanese

“Dear” in Japanese is 愛しい (itoshii).

Describes a person, living thing, or object that inspires deep affection and feels especially precious.

Full entry for 愛しい: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 愛しい

離れて暮らす娘の声が愛しいです。hana re te ku ra su musume no koe ga ito shi i de su

I cherish the sound of my daughter's voice even though she lives far away.

Tips for using 愛しい

  • In Japanese, 愛しい (itoshii) can describe a child, pet, or cherished object, so dear is not limited to romantic love.

“dear” in other languages