Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Love" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "love", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
大好き
だいすき (daisuki)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
愛情
あいじょう (aijō)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "love" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 大好き and 愛情.
In Japanese, 大好き (だいすき (daisuki)) is typically associated with "to love; to be very fond of; favorite" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used to express a strong liking or love for something or someone, more intense than 好き.
On the other hand, 愛情 (あいじょう (aijō)) maps to "love; affection" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to deep love, affection, or warm caring feelings for family, partners, or friends. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'A-Affection?! S-Stop using such highly suggestive words! My strictly scolding attitude is also a form of high-quality affection toward you! ...Wait! Forget that! That was classified!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『あ、愛情？！仕事中にそんな刺激の強い言葉を使うんじゃないわよ！私の厳しい指導だって、あんたに対する最上級の「愛情表現（ツンデレ）」なんだからね！...って、今のセリフは社外秘よ！』. A literal translation of "love" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "大好き"
私は日本語の勉強が大好きです。
I love studying Japanese.
Bilingual Context for "愛情"
両親からたくさんの愛情を受けて育ちました。
I grew up receiving a lot of affection from my parents.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私は日本語の勉強が ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "I love studying Japanese.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大好き" fits here because it means "to love; to be very fond of; favorite" in the context of: "I love studying Japanese.". "愛情" represents "love; affection".