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爱
ài
love
我爱你。
I love you.
general
To feel deep affection for someone or something.
她爱她的家人。
She loves her family.
他爱祖国。
He loves his country.
Can be used for people, places, activities, or abstract concepts.
general
A strong liking for or interest in something.
我爱看书。
I love reading.
她爱音乐。
She loves music.
Often used with activities or hobbies.
general
To take care of or cherish.
父母爱护孩子。
Parents cherish their children.
Commonly used in the phrase 爱护 (àihù).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage with objects
爱 can be used with both animate and inanimate objects. For example, 爱祖国 (love one's country) or 爱咖啡 (love coffee).
Gold Rule
Context matters
The meaning of 爱 can shift based on context. For example, 我爱你 (I love you) is romantic, while 我爱吃饭 (I love eating) is about a preference.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese *qʰɯːts (to love), evolving into Middle Chinese 爱 (ʔɛiH). The character combines 艹 (grass) and 旡 (a variant of 旡, meaning 'to give') in a phonetic-semantic compound.
Usage Notes
爱 is one of the most fundamental and versatile words in Chinese, used across emotions, preferences, and care. It can function as a verb or noun depending on context. In romantic contexts, it often implies deep emotional attachment.
Word Breakdown
爱
love
root汉英词典