However, there was always something unsatisfying to me about the alternatives to the traditional English phrase “I miss you”.
With that being said, let’s examine what we have at our disposal…
会いたい (aitai) is likely the most prevalent method that “I miss you” is translated into Japanese.
Want to meet you and see you well, even perhaps more than you think we can agree that those have substantially different connotations in English.”
If you were going to text your lover in Japanese, you would probably use the phrase “aitai” 会いたい, which means “I want to see you.”
Here are the Japanese and English Wikipedia pages that prove it! Additionally, there is also a Korean drama called “Missing You” that has been translated into English.
寂しい (sabishii / samishii) = I’m lonely (because I miss you)…?
Also, when Japanese people say “I’m lonely,” they technically mean “I’m sabishii/samishii,” which is a different kind of loneliness than what I’m trying to express when I say “I miss you.”
Side note: either pronunciation of this word is fine: 寂しい = さびしい / さみしい = sabishii / samishii.
The feeling of loneliness (sabishii / samishii) triggers automatic “I miss you” popups in LINE.
This assumption validates that a lot of people who type “samishii / sabishii” really mean “I’m lonely,” “I miss you,” or “I’m lonely (because you’re not here).”
恋しいこいしい = I miss you…?
If you can’t exactly yell across the house to your lover, the first thing you need to do is find a way to meet with the person you’re longing for.
This makes it slightly different than 会いたい (aitai), which does not necessarily mean that you are incapable for meeting with [missed person].
Another aspect that distinguishes 恋しい (koishii) is that it is completely acceptable to express it towards a location or an item.
For example:.
I miss American pizza!
Alternatively, if you were to say:
I miss [want to meet with] American pizza.
Then it seems like American pizza is something or someone that you’re longing for, which appears improbable.
淋しい = Seriously, I’m lonely (because I miss you)…?
I inquired Rei about the distinction between the two distinct kanji that are employed to compose this term: 寂 and 淋.
“I’m lonely, not because you’re here, but because I’m alone. If I were to be honest, I’d say that I’m just a lover being lonely. I use the message “here” in your place because it carries a more serious connotation of loneliness, which I decided to emphasize by using the second kanji for “loneliness.” We talked about it for a minute.”
If you’re looking to learn enough Japanese to engage in conversations and be understood by a native speaker, NativShark is the perfect place for you.
Best of luck with your studies of the Japanese language!