#ownerofdark

好き (suki) - this word literally means “like” but can also mean “love” depending on context. this is the most common word you’ll hear in a love confession scene in any kind of japanese media. one prime example of this word being used in beastars i can think of is this scene

legosi realizes his feelings for haru are romantic. Interestingly, the translation on mangadex translates this line as “I’m in love with you” while the official viz media translation says “I like you”. 

In my humble onion, tho the official transation isn’t technically wrong, i feel that translating 好き as “love” in this scene makes the line more impactful.

EDIT: when louis admits that he likes carnivores he also uses 好き. interpret that how you will.

There’s also the word 大好き which uses the kanjis for “big” and “like”, so its like a more elevated version of 好き i guess lol, and is often translated as “love”.

“Legosi-kun, I like you. I love you.“

“You remind me of your papa’s flavor which I love so much“

恋 (koi) - this word/kanji is specifically for romantic love. phrases like 恋する means “to love” and 恋に落ちる means “to fall in love”. this word is used in beastars in scenes where legosi/juno are talking about their feelings for haru/louis

“my love is a prayer for your safety“

“I’m surprised Juno-san realized her love for him and kissed him in the same day...“

Also in chapter 107 when gosha says that he wants legosi to fall in love with a female wolf he uses the phrase “恋に落ちて” which means “fall in love”

恋愛 (renai) - also refers to romantic love. this word is often translated as “romance”. 異種族恋愛 means “interspecies romance”

it’s also used when melon says that females become “love monsters” as they grow older.

愛 (ai) - means “love” in a more general sense i think. it doesn’t have the explicitly romantic connotations that 恋 or 恋愛 have. It think its often used for like, familial love, but it can be used for romantic love too. I also think this is a pretty strong word to say, so you wouldn’t exactly say it to someone on the first date lol. The most recent use of this word (that i can think of) in beastars was in chapter 176

“love“ was part of the equation that allowed legosi’s lizard powers to kick in and regrow his teeth lol. i think it’s specifically his love for his grandpa.

it’s also used in chapter 174

“mama loved the gazelle in me“

and when yahya mentions “interspecies love” and “heterosexual love”

愛情 (aijou) - this word is made up with the kanjis for “love” and “feelings”, so it can literally mean “feelings of love”. I think the same meaning/connotations of 愛also apply to this word. I saw it used a couple times, when oguma is on his deathbed

“I suppose a conglomerate ceo... shouldn’t be allowed to feel love“

and when melon is reminded of his mother

“I wanted to think that mama’s love for me... was the only thing in our room that was real.“

EDIT: I FORGOT ONE

可愛がる (kawaigaru) - this one was new to me. it means “to love; to cherish; to dote on”. I seems to be used for parental love, or love people have for their pets, i don’t think this has any romantic connotation. legosi uses it in chapter 150

“I’ll raise my future children with tons of love“