The Top 10 Survival Japanese Phrases When Dating Someone

Dating in Japanese can feel intimidating because you don’t just need vocabulary—you need the right tone. The phrases below focus on what you actually say on dates: introductions, compliments, invitations, feelings, and boundaries.

The Top 10 Survival Japanese Phrases for Dating

1) “Nice to meet you.”

Japanese: はじめまして。

Romaji: hajimemashite.

Japanese: よろしくお願（ねが）いします。

Romaji: yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Use it when: First time meeting (in person or after matching online).

2) “I had fun today.”

Japanese: 今日（きょう）は楽（たの）しかったです。

Romaji: kyō wa tanoshikatta desu.

Use it when: End of a date—simple, warm, and natural.

Extra natural add-on

Japanese: また会（あ）いたいです。

Romaji: mata aitai desu. (I want to see you again.)

3) “You look nice today.”

Japanese: 今日（きょう）すごく素敵（すてき）ですね。

Romaji: kyō sugoku suteki desu ne.

Use it when: Greeting them—safe compliment that isn’t too intense.

More specific (still polite)

Japanese: その服（ふく）、似合（にあ）っていますね。

Romaji: sono fuku, niatte imasu ne. (That outfit suits you.)

4) “I like spending time with you.”

Japanese: 一緒（いっしょ）にいると落（お）ち着（つ）きます。

Romaji: issho ni iru to ochitsukimasu.

Use it when: You want to express affection gently (very natural in Japanese).

More direct

Japanese: 一緒（いっしょ）にいるのが好（す）きです。

Romaji: issho ni iru no ga suki desu.

5) “Do you want to go (somewhere)?”

Japanese: 今度（こんど）、〜に行（い）きませんか？

Romaji: kondo, ~ ni ikimasen ka?

Use it when: Inviting someone—polite and standard.

Examples

Japanese: 今度（こんど）、カフェに行（い）きませんか？

Romaji: kondo, kafe ni ikimasen ka?

Japanese: 今度（こんど）、ご飯（はん）行（い）きませんか？

Romaji: kondo, gohan ikimasen ka? (Wanna grab food sometime?)

6) “When are you free?”

Japanese: いつ空（あ）いていますか？

Romaji: itsu aite imasu ka?

Use it when: Scheduling a second date.

More casual

Japanese: 次（つぎ）いつ会（あ）える？

Romaji: tsugi itsu aeru? (When can we meet next?)

7) “Can I call you?” / “Can I message you?”

Japanese: 電話（でんわ）してもいいですか？

Romaji: denwa shite mo ii desu ka?

Japanese: LINE（ライン）してもいいですか？

Romaji: rain shite mo ii desu ka?

Use it when: You want contact permission in a respectful way.

Even more common

Japanese: LINE（ライン）交換（こうかん）しませんか？

Romaji: rain kōkan shimasen ka? (Want to exchange LINE?)

8) “I’m not used to this / I’m a bit nervous.”

Japanese: ちょっと緊張（きんちょう）しています。

Romaji: chotto kinchō shite imasu.

Use it when: You want to be honest and cute—this works surprisingly well.

Soft variation

Japanese: まだ慣（な）れてなくて…。

Romaji: mada narete nakute… (I’m not used to it yet…)

9) “I’m not comfortable with that.” (boundaries)

Japanese: それはちょっと苦手（にがて）です。

Romaji: sore wa chotto nigate desu.

Use it when: You want to decline gently without drama.

Clearer boundary (still polite)

Japanese: 今（いま）はやめておきたいです。

Romaji: ima wa yamete okitai desu. (I’d rather not for now.)

Japanese: もう少（すこ）しゆっくり進（すす）めたいです。

Romaji: mō sukoshi yukkuri susumetai desu. (I want to take it slower.)

10) “I like you.” / “I love you.”

Japanese: 好（す）きです。

Romaji: suki desu.

Use it when: You want to say it clearly—classic and powerful.

Stronger (use carefully)

Japanese: 大好（だいす）きです。

Romaji: daisuki desu. (I really like you.)

Japanese: 愛（あい）しています。

Romaji: aishite imasu. (I love you — very strong / less common in casual dating.)

Quick Dating Dialogue (Copy & Practice)

You: はじめまして。よろしくお願（ねが）いします。

(hajimemashite. yoroshiku onegai shimasu. - Nice to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you.)

You: 今日（きょう）すごく素敵（すてき）ですね。

(kyō sugoku suteki desu ne. - You look very nice today.)

You: 一緒（いっしょ）にいると落（お）ち着（つ）きます。

(issho ni iru to ochitsukimasu. - I feel comfortable when I'm with you.)

You: 今日（きょう）は楽（たの）しかったです。また会（あ）いたいです。

(kyō wa tanoshikatta desu. mata aitai desu. - I had fun today. I want to see you again.)

You: 今度（こんど）、カフェに行（い）きませんか？いつ空（あ）いていますか？

(kondo, kafe ni ikimasen ka? itsu aite imasu ka? - Would you like to go to a cafe next time? When are you free?)

Tips to Sound Natural When Dating in Japanese

Keep it “soft” at first

Japanese dating language often starts gentle. Phrases like:

Japanese: 一緒（いっしょ）にいると落（お）ち着（つ）きます。

(issho ni iru to ochitsukimasu.)

…can feel more natural than jumping straight to big emotional statements.

Use “〜ませんか？” for polite invitations

Japanese: 行（い）きませんか？

(ikimasen ka?)

It’s friendly, not pushy, and very commonly used.

FAQs: Dating Japanese Phrases

How do I ask someone out politely in Japanese?

Japanese: 今度（こんど）、ご飯（はん）行（い）きませんか？

Romaji: kondo, gohan ikimasen ka?

It’s the most standard, natural invitation.

Is “愛（あい）してる” common in Japanese dating?

Japanese: 愛（あい）してるは強（つよ）い表現（ひょうげん）です。

Romaji: aishiteru wa tsuyoi hyōgen desu.

It’s often reserved for serious relationships. Most people say 好（す）き or 大好（だいす）き.

What’s a gentle way to set boundaries?

Japanese: 今（いま）はやめておきたいです。

Romaji: ima wa yamete okitai desu.

Clear, polite, and not aggressive.

How do I say “I want to take it slow”?

Japanese: もう少（すこ）しゆっくり進（すす）めたいです。

Romaji: mō sukoshi yukkuri susumetai desu.