I answered this question last year.
My first language is Japanese. In Japanese, romantic (ロマンチック, a word borrowed from English) means the feeling of love.
I once had a conversation with a Peruvian about cultural differences. Most Japanese people think that hugging and kissing are only for couples. Of course, public displays of affection are not common. According to some data, the average Japanese first kiss is between 16 years old and 18 years old. This first kiss is usually with a boyfriend or girlfriend.
However, in Spanish and Latin American cultures, hugging and kissing are common greetings. I remember the first time I met my friends in Spain. They kissed me on the cheek. I was surprised when they actually did it.
In English, romantic doesn’t just mean intimacy or desire for the other person. Over 200 years ago, many people used it to express their emotions.
So, my romantic example is drinking hot coffee while watching a beautiful sunrise.
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