Sabtu, 11 April 2009

The meaning of aishiteru...


Konnichiwa...
May be all of you confuse what is the meaning of 'aishiteru', the first word on my URL for my blog. Let me tell you...


One of the most popular phrases in any language is probably "I love you." In Japanese, "love" is "ai (愛)," and the verb form "to love" is "aisuru (愛する)." "I love you" can be literally translated as "aishite imasu (愛しています)". "Aishiteru (愛してる)," "aishiteru yo (愛してるよ)" or "aishiteru wa (愛してるわ, female speech)" is normally used in conversation. However, the Japanese don't say "I love you" as often as Western people do, because of cultural differences. I am not surprised if some Japanese say that they have never used these expressions in their life.

The Japanese generally don't express their love openly. They believe that love can be expressed by manners. When they put their feelings into words, it is preferred to use the phrase "suki desu (好きです)". It literally means, "to like." "Suki da (好きだ)," "suki dayo" (好きだよ, male speech) or "suki yo (好きよ, female speech)" are more colloquial expressions.

If you like somebody or something very much, "dai (literally means, big)" can be added as the prefix, and say "daisuki desu (大好きです)."
There is another word to describe "love" which is "koi(恋)."

The words including "ai" and "koi"
aidokusho 愛読書(one's favorite book)
hatsukoi 初恋(first love)
aijin 愛人 (lover)
hiren 悲恋(sad love)
aijou 愛情(love, affection)
koibito 恋人(one's boyfriend/girlfriend)
koibumi 恋文(love letter)
aikokushin 愛国心(patriotism)
koigataki 恋敵(a rival in love)
aisha 愛車(one's cherished car)
koi ni ochiru 恋に落ちる(to fall in love with)
koisuru恋する(to be in love with)
boseiai 母性愛(mother's love, maternal affection)
renai 恋愛(love)
shitsuren 失恋(disappointed love)

"Koi" is a love for the opposite sex, or a longing feeling for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love." While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love. "Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love. Here are some lines that explain them well:

Koi is always wanting. Ai is always giving.

Here are some proverbs that include "koi."
koi wa moumoku.恋は盲目。
Love is blind.

Hopefully this explaination can be described the word 'aishiteru' to all my lovely friend...Thanx for spend your time to visit my blog. Ja ne...Aishiteru...