From Boy to Man: How Men Say “I Love You” — or Don’t

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泰穆尔-列维廷
泰穆尔-列维廷
翻译系教师。专业认证翻译员,拥有英语和德语翻译和教学经验。我在世界 20 个国家从事教学工作。我的教学和授课原则是摒弃死记硬背规则的做法,而是要学会理解语言的原理,并像说话一样凭感觉正确发音,而不是在脑子里逐一复习所有的规则,因为在实际讲话中没有时间这样做。你总是需要根据情况和舒适度来进行练习。
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Boys Talk, Men Don’t?

A 14-year-old boy might say “I love you” ten times a day — in messages, on TikTok, in songs.
A 40-year-old man might never say it — not because he doesn’t feel it, but because he doesn’t need to say it.

Language doesn’t just show emotion. It hides it, protects it, replaces it.
And nowhere is this more true than in how men talk about love.

Age Changes How We Express Love

AgePatternExpression
12–16Copying what they hear“I love you so much!! 😍”, “You’re my world”, “Я тебя обожаю”
17–25Intensity and insecurity“Ты моя вселенная”, “Ich liebe dich” — often too soon
26–45Fewer words, more action“Ты знаешь”, “Я с тобой”, silent gestures
46+Silence with presenceA look, a gesture, a shared routine. No need to speak.

In many cultures, boys talk to impress.
Men don’t talk — they build, show, endure.

Arabic: When Love Is in the Deed, Not the Word

In Arabic, men rarely say “I love you” directly.
Instead, they say:

阿拉伯语Literal MeaningReal Meaning
أحبك (uhibbuka)I love youReserved, formal, often poetic
حبيبي / حبيبتي (habibi/habibti)My belovedEveryday speech, soft intimacy
أموت فيك (amūt fīk)I’d die for youUsed playfully or passionately
أنت عيوني (anta ʿuyūnī)You are my eyesDeep loyalty, care, devotion

In Arabic-speaking cultures, a man might express love by:

  • bringing tea to her family,
  • fixing something silently,
  • or simply saying nothing and showing everything.

Japanese: When Love Is Respect, Not Confession

Japanese culture values harmony and emotional modesty.

日语PhraseMeaning
愛してる (aishiteru)I love youDeep, serious, rarely said aloud
好きです (suki desu)I like youCommon in dating, gentle and polite
大切な人 (taisetsu na hito)Important personA respectful, caring way to express affection

A Japanese man might never say “I love you” —
but will stand by you for life.

More on Japanese here:
👉 Learn Japanese

German and Ukrainian: Direct Words, or Gentle Detours

LanguagePhrase评论
德国Ich liebe dichRare, strong, usually in long-term relationships
Ich hab dich gernSoft, friendly affection
乌克兰Я тебе кохаюRomantic love, formal
Я тебе люблюBroader, often emotional but not always romantic

German and Ukrainian men often struggle with emotional speech.
They do — but don’t always say.

Why Men Speak Differently — And Why It Matters

Men are taught to:

  • Be strong.
  • Be silent.
  • Not need words.

But language shapes connection.
If we don’t say anything — we risk not being heard at all.

在 列维廷语言学校, we’ve worked with men from over 20 countries.
And one truth repeats:

Many men don’t know how to say “I love you” — even in their native language.
So we help them find a way — not just in English or German, but in their own voice.

What We Teach Instead of Phrases

We don’t push scripts. We teach:

  • How to express care through tone, not just words
  • How to be direct — or beautifully indirect
  • How to say enough, but not too much

Because “I love you” is only powerful when it means what it says —
and sounds like .

Coming Next in This Series

“She Knows. He Doesn’t Say It.”
Why Women Expect Words — and Men Hide Behind Silence.

We’ll explore the gender gap in emotional language — and how to bridge it.

© Tymur Levitin — Founder, Teacher & Translator
Start Language School by Tymur Levitin / Levitin Language School

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