愛 (ài) - Love — deep affection, fondness, tender passion, or & to like or be fond of something

愛Tone 4

ài ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

安

愛 · ài

Love — deep affection, fondness, tender passion, or care;

to like or be fond of something;

to cherish.

Love — deep affection, fondness, tender passion, orto like or be fond of somethingto cherish.

Usage highlights

LoveMother's loveFather's loveLove someoneLove the motherlandLove science

Synonyms

  • 喜欢— to like, to be fond of
  • 疼爱— to dote on, to show affection
  • 钟爱— to cherish, to adore

Antonyms

  • 恨— to hate, hatred
  • 厌恶— to detest, disgust
  • 讨厌— to dislike, to loathe

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Maternal love is selfless (母爱).
  • They fell in love at first sight (一见钟情).
  • I love reading books (爱看书).
  • Show love and care for animals (爱护动物).

Collocations

  • Love(爱)
  • Mother's love(母爱)
  • Father's love(父爱)
  • Love someone(爱人)
  • Love the motherland(爱国)
  • Love science(爱科学)

Idioms

  • Love without discrimination(爱不释手)
  • Love the people as one's own children(爱民如子)
  • Love money as one's life(爱财如命)
  • Love the house and its crow(爱屋及乌)
  • Love deeply and cherish dearly(爱惜羽毛)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian thought, 'ai' represents benevolent love, distinct from romantic or passionate love.
  • The character contains the component 心 (heart) at the bottom, emphasizing love as an emotion from the heart.
  • In modern usage, 'ai' has broadened to include romantic love, though traditionally this was more specifically 爱情.

FAQ