Relationships are a common topic in everyday conversation. You might want to talk about your friends, someone you like, your boyfriend or girlfriend, or how well you get along with someone.

In Japanese, there are many useful expressions for describing relationships and feelings. ❤️ Let’s look at some natural Japanese phrases you can use when talking about relationships.

1. 仲なかがいい — We’re Close / We Get Along Well

仲(なか)がいい means that you have a good relationship with someone.

私わたしたちは仲なかがいいです。

We are close.

姉あねととても仲なかがいいです。

I’m very close with my older sister.

You can use this for friends, family members, coworkers, and romantic partners.

The opposite is:

仲なかが悪わるい

to not get along

兄あにとはあまり仲なかがよくないです。

I’m not very close with my older brother.

2. 気きが合あう — We Click / We Get Along

気(き)が合(あ)う means that two people have compatible personalities or naturally get along.

It is similar to saying “we click” in English.

彼かれとは気きが合あいます。

I get along well with him.

私わたしたちは趣味しゅみも同おなじで、気きが合あいます。

We have the same hobbies, so we really click.

This is a great expression for talking about friendships and dating. 😊

3. 好すきな人ひとがいる — I Like Someone

If you have feelings for someone, you can say:

好すきな人ひとがいます。

There is someone I like.

Here, 好(す)きな人(ひと) means “someone I like” or “my crush.”

A friend might ask:

好すきな人ひといる？

Do you like anyone?

In casual conversation, います is often dropped and people simply say いる.

4. 付つき合あっている — We’re Dating

付(つ)き合(あ)う has several meanings, but in romantic relationships it means “to date” or “to be in a relationship.”

今いま、付つき合あっている人ひとがいます。

I’m dating someone right now.

二人ふたりは付つき合あっています。

Those two are dating.

You may also hear:

付つき合あってください。

Please go out with me.

This can be used when asking someone to officially become your boyfriend or girlfriend.

5. 一目惚ひとめぼれした — I Fell in Love at First Sight

一目(ひとめ)惚(ぼ)れ means “love at first sight.”

彼かれに一目惚ひとめぼれしました。

I fell in love with him at first sight.

初はじめて会あった時とき、一目惚ひとめぼれしました。

When I first met them, it was love at first sight.

It’s a romantic expression you may hear in dramas, movies, and real conversations too. 💕

6. 片思かたおもいしている — I Have a Crush on Someone

片(かた)思(おも)い means having romantic feelings for someone when you are not in a relationship with them.

今いま、片思かたおもいしています。

I have a crush on someone right now.

彼かれにずっと片思かたおもいしています。

I’ve had feelings for him for a long time.

If both people like each other, you can use:

両思りょうおもい

to have mutual feelings for each other

7. 告白こくはくする — To Confess Your Feelings

In Japan, 告白(こくはく)する is often used when someone clearly tells another person that they like them and wants to start a relationship.

好すきな人ひとに告白こくはくしました。

I confessed my feelings to the person I like.

告白こくはくしたいけど、緊張きんちょうします。

I want to tell them how I feel, but I’m nervous.

告白(こくはく) does not always mean a romantic confession, but it is very commonly used this way when talking about dating.

8. うまくいっている — Things Are Going Well

うまくいく means “to go well.”

When talking about a relationship, you can say:

彼氏かれしとはうまくいっています。

Things are going well with my boyfriend.

最近さいきん、二人ふたりはうまくいっているみたいです。

It seems like things are going well between them lately.

The negative form is also useful:

最近さいきん、あまりうまくいっていません。

Things haven’t been going very well lately.

9. けんかする — To Have an Argument

けんかする means “to fight” or “to have an argument.”

昨日きのう、彼氏かれしとけんかしました。

I had an argument with my boyfriend yesterday.

友達ともだちとけんかしたくないです。

I don’t want to fight with my friend.

After an argument, hopefully you can:

仲直なかなおりする

make up / reconcile

昨日きのうけんかしたけど、もう仲直なかなおりしました。

We argued yesterday, but we already made up.

10. 別わかれる — To Break Up

別(わか)れる means “to separate,” but when talking about a romantic relationship, it means “to break up.”

彼氏かれしと別わかれました。

I broke up with my boyfriend.

二人ふたりは去年別きょねんわかれました。

They broke up last year.

You may also hear:

別わかれたい。

I want to break up.

Hopefully, you won’t need to use this one too often! 😅

11. ずっと一緒いっしょにいたい — I Want to Be With You Forever

For something a little more romantic:

ずっと一緒いっしょにいたい。

I want to always be with you.

Here, ずっと means “continuously,” “for a long time,” or “forever,” depending on the context.

これからもずっと一緒いっしょにいたいです。

I want to stay together with you from now on.

This expression sounds much more emotional than simply saying 好(す)きです. ❤️

Useful Relationship Phrases

• 仲なかがいい — to be close / get along well
• 仲なかが悪わるい — to not get along
• 気きが合あう — to click / be compatible
• 好すきな人ひとがいる — to like someone / have a crush
• 付つき合あっている — to be dating
• 一目惚ひとめぼれする — to fall in love at first sight
• 片思かたおもいする — to have unrequited feelings / a crush
• 両思りょうおもい — to have mutual feelings
• 告白こくはくする — to confess your feelings
• うまくいっている — things are going well
• けんかする — to fight / argue
• 仲直なかなおりする — to make up
• 別わかれる — to break up
• ずっと一緒いっしょにいたい — I want to always be with you

Final Thoughts

Japanese has many natural phrases for describing relationships, from friendship to romance.

Instead of only learning words such as 友達(ともだち) or 彼氏(かれし), learning expressions like 気(き)が合(あ)う, 仲(なか)がいい, and うまくいっている will help you talk about your relationships much more naturally.

Which Japanese relationship phrase would you like to use first? 😊

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