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愛
ai
love
彼は家族を深く愛している。
He deeply loves his family.
formal
A strong feeling of affection and care toward someone or something.
母の愛は無償だ。
A mother's love is unconditional.
彼らは互いに愛を誓った。
They vowed their love for each other.
Can also imply a strong liking or passion for non-human things (e.g., 愛 = love for art, pets).
formal
To love someone or something; to feel deep affection.
彼女は子供を愛し、育てた。
She loved and raised her child.
彼は故郷の風景を愛していた。
He loved the scenery of his hometown.
Used as a suru-verb (愛する) in active constructions.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 愛 vs 恋愛
愛 is a general term for love, while 恋愛 (ren'ai) specifically refers to romantic love.
Gold Rule
愛 in compound words
愛 often appears in compound words to emphasize deep affection or passion (e.g., 愛国 = patriotism, 愛犬 = love for dogs).
Word Origin
From Old Japanese *manu* (愛), ultimately from Proto-Japonic *manu. The kanji 愛 was borrowed from Chinese (ài) during the Heian period.
Usage Notes
愛 is a broad term encompassing familial, romantic, platonic, and even self-love. In modern Japanese, it is often used in emotional or poetic contexts rather than casual speech.
Word Breakdown
愛
love/affection
root和英辞典