The most natural way to say I miss you in Japanese is 会いたい (aitai), literally "I want to see you". Japanese has no everyday verb for missing a person, so speakers say what they want instead. 寂しい (sabishii, "I'm lonely") describes the feeling of your absence, and 会いたかった (aitakatta) means "I missed you" when you meet again.
- Most common
- 会いたい (aitai)
- How it feels
- 寂しい (sabishii)
- Literary longing
- 恋しい (koishii)
- When you meet again
- 会いたかった (aitakatta)
- Level
- A1
Why do Japanese speakers say "I want to see you"?
English turns missing someone into one verb. Japanese splits it into wanting and feeling: the 〜たい ending ("want to") on a verb such as 会う (au, meet), or an adjective for the emptiness, 寂しい. Both are direct and warm, so they belong with partners, family and close friends.
| Japanese | Romaji | Literal meaning | Say it to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会いたい | aitai | I want to see you | A partner, family, a close friend |
| 会いたいな | aitai na | I'd love to see you | Softer and wistful; common in texts |
| 早く会いたい | hayaku aitai | I want to see you soon | A partner before a reunion |
| 寂しい | sabishii | I'm lonely | Anyone close; describes your feeling |
| 寂しくなるね | sabishiku naru ne | It'll be lonely without you | Someone about to leave |
| 恋しい | koishii | I long for | Writing and songs; also places and food |
| 懐かしい | natsukashii | That takes me back | Nostalgia for the past, not a person today |
Spoken to a friend of the opposite sex, 会いたい can sound romantic. Between friends, また会おうね (mata aō ne, "let's meet again") keeps it light.
How does missing someone sound in a Japanese story?
Japanese writers rarely say "I miss you" outright. They show it through what the speaker wants to do again, often with また (mata, "again").
「君 の 音楽 を また 聞きたい。 ずっと 待っている。」"Kimi no ongaku o mata kikitai. Zutto matte iru."
声が聞きたい。
Koe ga kikitai.
I want to hear your voice.
To a partner, often before a phone call.
また一緒に行きたいね。
Mata issho ni ikitai ne.
I'd love to go there with you again.
会えなくて寂しい。
Aenakute sabishii.
I'm lonely without seeing you.
会えなくて: "not being able to meet".
How do you say "I missed you" when you meet again?
Put 会いたい in the past: 会いたかった (aitakatta), "I wanted to see you". For friends and colleagues you have not seen in a while, the usual opener is 久しぶり (hisashiburi), "it's been a long time".
会いたかった！
Aitakatta!
I missed you!
To a partner or family member at the airport.
久しぶり！元気だった？
Hisashiburi! Genki datta?
Long time no see! How have you been?
お久しぶりです。
Ohisashiburi desu.
It's been a long time.
Polite: to a former teacher or colleague.
みんなに会いたかったです。
Minna ni aitakatta desu.
I missed you all.
For the follow-up question, see how to say how are you in Japanese.
Can you say I miss you to colleagues, or about things?
Not with 会いたい: at work it sounds far too personal. When a colleague leaves, say 寂しくなります (sabishiku narimasu, "we'll miss you"). For missing a place or food, use 恋しい, which is perfectly natural in that sense.
寂しくなります。
Sabishiku narimasu.
We'll miss you.
At a colleague's leaving do.
日本の料理が恋しいです。
Nihon no ryōri ga koishii desu.
I miss Japanese food.
この歌、懐かしい！
Kono uta, natsukashii!
This song brings back memories!
For the bigger words, see how to say I love you in Japanese.
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Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between aitai and sabishii?
会いたい is about the person: you want to see them. 寂しい is about you: you feel lonely. Partners often use both, as in 寂しい、早く会いたい (sabishii, hayaku aitai).
How do you reply when someone says aitai?
私も会いたい (watashi mo aitai, "I want to see you too"). Men often say 僕も (boku mo) or 俺も (ore mo) in place of 私も.
Is koishii used in conversation?
Rarely about people, where it sounds like a love song. About home, food or a season it is natural: 冬が恋しい (fuyu ga koishii), "I miss winter".
How do you say "I miss home" in Japanese?
家が恋しい (ie ga koishii) works, but people more often say ホームシックになった (hōmushikku ni natta), "I've got homesick".