Linguistic differences aside, there is a larger cultural difference that causes a mistranslation to occur. Japanese people simply do not regularly say “I love you.” Someone might say “Aishiteru” in a sappy romantic movie, but overall the lingering impression after one professes their love in Japanese is a profound ...
In Japanese culture it's actually very uncommon to verbally express affection in the way that we are used to in the West. While it might feel normal to text “I love you” to your significant other at random points in the day, in Japan that would be considered extremely intense!
Dating in Japan is a little different to what most of us are used to in the West, with one of the main differences being kokuhaku, which literally translates to "confession," but in the dating world it refers to the confession of love.
That's because, as we mentioned earlier, the alternative aishiteiru is a more serious way to say I love you in Japanese. If you want to convey more affection, you can say, 大好き (daisuki) instead. Daisuki means I really like you. However, it's used more commonly to convey the idea of love than aishiteiru is.
Daisuki can be translated as 'I love you very much' or 'I really like you'. It's a way to really emphasis your feelings for the other person. Again, you can add different endings for nuance and emphasis. So daisuki yo is more feminine, while daisuki da yo is a more masculine way to say I love you in Japanese.
First of all, suki (好き). The latter can be used more lightly than the other three. It expresses affection rather than literal love and is usually translated into “like” in English.
But if you're looking to tell someone for the first time “I love you” in Japanese, suki desu is a good place to start.
Japanese are known to be shy, so once they become a couple, they flirt discreetly when in public. For example, you can see many couples walking hand-in-hand but not kissing much. Most Japanese feel embarrassed even just exchanging a small kiss on the cheek in public.
Nevertheless, for a confession, the most basic and widespread phrase is “suki desu” (好きです, I like you), often followed up by “tsukiatte kudasai” (付き合ってください, please go out with me).
“Daisuki desu” means to really like or love something, so this has a similar effect as “suki desu”. For example, if you are confessing your feelings for someone, you might say: Suki desu! Tsukiatte kudasai.
In Japan, you're not likely to see too much public smooching going on. As well as being reserved and modest by nature, most Japanese people also believe that drawing attention to oneself in public is bad manners.
Never hugging or kissing
In Japan, touching another person's body is considered rude, even with friends or family. Hugging and kissing are mostly for couples.
Nanpa (ナンパ), also transliterated as nampa, in Japanese culture is a type of flirting and seduction popular among teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties. When Japanese women pursue men in a fashion similar to nanpa, it is called gyakunan (逆ナン).
Koibito (恋人 / こいびと) is the Japanese word for 'sweetheart' or 'lover'. It consists of the characters for love (恋) and person (人). It can be used for a girlfriend or boyfriend, or even husband or wife. This term can be used regardless of your significant other's gender.
They say "arigato" to express love, thanking each other, instead of saying, "Ai shirotu yo". to stay near while loving.
This sounds a bit creepy but it's not so much telling someone you love them but rather the Japanese way of letting them know you like them and asking them out. One thing that is very different in Japan is that it is not uncommon for a woman to ask a man out.
In Japanese, the phrase “I love you” exists linguistically, but does not exist culturally. Linguistically, it is best translated as 愛してる or Aishiteru.
Expressing Emotions: Displaying intense emotion is usually avoided in Japanese communication. This is especially the case in formal situations such as in the workplace or at school. People tend to avoid overt and intense displays of anger to preserve face.
There are all kinds of kissing all over the world, but traditionally, in Japan there has only been two kinds and they are the romantic kissing done by couples or kissing babies. Public displays of affection have always been frowned upon, and still generally are: a kiss on the lips is serious business.
Displays of Affection in Japan
Asian couples don't usually express affection towards each other in public. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex'such as kissing, hugging and holding hands — are considered rude. Even families rarely touch, hug or display physical affection in public.
Guys like girls with a good scent. Sometimes they even fall in love with a girl just because she smells nice. The scent is as important as appearance. Japanese guys especially like floral, soap, and soft citrus fragrance. Many say shampoo flavor floating out from a girl is quite nice.
Ara Ara is a Japanese expression, a word you say when you are moved or surprised (A term that repeats the interjection “Ara” twice) and means oh dear or oh my in English, depending on the situation. I'm sure you've seen scenes where women use “Ara Ara” in anime, but it's also used in real life.