- 恋 — romantic love / longing
- 恋人 — boyfriend / girlfriend / romantic partner
- 恋愛 — romantic love / a love relationship
- 初恋 — first love
- 失恋 — heartbreak / broken romance
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恋 uses the heart radical 心 at the bottom, showing emotion and desire. The top part gives the sound レン and adds the sense of yearning. In modern Japanese, 恋 is the “romantic” kind of love — wanting someone, missing someone. Compare 愛, which leans more toward deep affection and care.