恋愛
Meaning in Englishlove, romance
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
What does 恋愛 mean? It denotes romantic love between partners, the emotional state and social phenomenon of being in a romantic relationship, commonly discussed in dating, romance, and media contexts.
Main meanings
- Emotional state of romantic attraction that can lead to dating or a relationship.
- Used to describe romance in literature, film, and media as a thematic category.
- Distinguishes romantic love from family or platonic affection in discussions of love and relationships.
How to use it
Used as a neutral noun in casual and formal speech to refer to romantic love or dating; commonly appears in discussions about relationships, romance genres, and personal histories; often paired with 恋愛関係 and 恋愛経験.
Variants and close terms
- ロマンス (romansu) — romance
- 恋 (koi) — romantic feeling
- 愛情 (aijō) — affection or deep love
- 交際 (kōsai) — dating or being in a relationship
Composition
- 恋 describes romantic longing or attraction
- 愛 signifies affection and deep love
Etymology
Phonology A native Japanese compound read ren'ai; the first kanji contributes the idea of romantic attraction and the second adds general love, with a standard pronunciation used in compounds.
Origin
The concept emerged in Heian court culture and classical literature, where romantic love became a central theme; it continued to evolve through Edo period romance narratives and into modern media, shaping everyday usage.
Word class
Noun (名詞)