愛

See also: 爱

愛 U+611B, 愛 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-611B ← 愚 [U+611A] CJK Unified Ideographs 愜 → [U+611C]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

愛 (Kangxi radical 61, 心+9, 13 strokes, cangjie input 月月心水 (BBPE), four-corner 2024₇, composition ⿳爫冖𢖻)

Derived characters

• 僾(𫣊), 噯(嗳), 嬡(嫒), 懓(𭞄), 曖(暧), 燰(𬊺), 璦(瑷), 皧, 瞹, 薆(𫉁), 鑀, 靉(叆), 鱫, 𣜬(𪳗), 𤻅, 𥖦, 𥣁, 𥴨(𫂖), 𦆔, 𦡝(𫆫), 𧓁, 𧞇, 𨙤, 𨣥, 𩡣(𩡖), 𪇈, 𪒱, 𭩊, 𮙀

Related characters

• 爱 (Simplified Chinese)

Descendants

• 𛀃 (Hentaigana)

References

• KangXi: page 395, character 13
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 10947
• Dae Jaweon: page 732, character 2
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2323, character 1
• Unihan data for U+611B

Chinese

FWOTD – 8 April 2020

trad.		愛
simp.		爱
alternative forms		㤅 𢙴 𢛭 𢜤 𤔠 㤅 𢙴 𢛭 𢜤 𤔠 𤔤 𢟪 𢖻

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 愛
Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (愛) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
愛	*qɯːds
曖	*qɯːds, *qaːds
僾	*qɯːds, *qɯlʔ
靉	*qɯːds, *qɯlʔ
薆	*qɯːds
璦	*qɯːds
瞹	*qaːds

Originally 㤅, a phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *qɯːds): phonetic 旡 (OC *kɯds) + semantic 心 (“heart”).

As early as the Qin dynasty, a meaningless component 夊 (“foot”) was added to the bottom of the character, as with some other characters depicting people. Compare 憂 (from 㥑).

Further corruption turned the original phonetic 旡 into ⿱爫冖.

Etymology

Based on Baxter's (1992) Old Chinese reconstruction /*ʔɨts/, STEDT suggests that it is from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ŋ-(w)aːj (“to copulate; to love; to be gentle”). Compare Proto-Karen *ʔai (“to love”), whence Pa'o Karen [script needed] (ʔái, “to love”), S'gaw Karen အဲၣ် (ʼeh̀, “to love”); Southern Bai e⁴⁴ (“love”); Mizo hma-ngaih (“to love, to like”); Jingpho nwai (“to respect, to love”), ngwi (“to be gentle”); Burmese ငွေ့ (ngwe., “to be gentle, moderate”). The Chinese word is related to a Tibeto-Burman allofam without initial *ŋ-. STEDT states that an Old Chinese reconstruction of /*ʔɨjs/ for 愛 is also possible because Old Chinese rhyming does not provide direct evidence of contacts with *-t.

However, Baxter and Sagart (2014) reconstructs /*[q]ˁə[p]-s/, which ends in *-p-s instead. The Old Chinese contrast between *-p-s and *-t-s was lost at a late stage of Old Chinese. The final *-p is not reflected in the Tibeto-Burman comparandum provided by STEDT, making the likelihood that the Chinese form is related to the rest very low (Sagart, 2019). Behr (2016) suggests a derivation from a verbal root meaning "to draw in; to inhale; to suck in", relating it to 吸 (OC *qʰ(r)əp, “to inhale”), 欱 (OC *qʰˁ[ə]p, “o sip”), 愾 (OC *qʰəp-s, “to sigh with regret”), 僾 (OC *qˁəp-s, “to pant”), 氣 (OC *C.qʰəp-s, “vapour; breath”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): ài (ai⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄞˋ

  (Chengdu, SP): ngai⁴

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): нэ (ne, III)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): oi³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): oi¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): ngai⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): oi

  (Meixian, Guangdong): oi⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): ghai³
• Min Bei (KCR): o̿
• Min Dong (BUC): ái / ó̤i
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): ài

  (Teochew, Peng'im): ain³

• Wu (Wiktionary): ²e
• Xiang (Wiktionary): ngai⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: ài
    • Zhuyin: ㄞˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: ài
    • Wade–Giles: ai⁴
    • Yale: ài
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ay
    • Palladius: ай (aj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀaɪ̯⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: ngai⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: ngai
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋai²¹³/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: нэ (ne, III)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nɛ⁴⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: oi³
    • Yale: oi
    • Cantonese Pinyin: oi³
    • Guangdong Romanization: oi³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɔːi̯³³/

Note: The zero initial /∅-/ is commonly pronounced with a ng-initial /ŋ-/ in some varieties of Cantonese, including Hong Kong Cantonese.

• • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: oi¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵘɔi³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: ngai⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋai³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: oi
    • Hakka Romanization System: oi
    • Hagfa Pinyim: oi⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /oi̯⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: oi⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /oɪ⁵³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: ghai³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɣai⁴⁵/
• Min Bei
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: o̿
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /o³³/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: ái / ó̤i
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɑi²¹³/, /ɔy²¹³/

Note:

• ái - literary;
• ó̤i - vernacular.

Min Nan

• (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, General Taiwanese, Singapore)
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ài
  • Tâi-lô: ài
  • Phofsit Daibuun: aix
  • IPA (Zhangpu, Taipei): /ai¹¹/
  • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung, Singapore): /ai²¹/
  • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /ai⁴¹/
• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: ain³
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: àiⁿ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ãĩ²¹³/

Note: written as 欲 (yù) for some senses.

• Wu
  • (Shanghainese)
    • Wiktionary: ²e
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /e̞³⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: ngai⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋai⁴⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: /ʔʌi^H/

Rime
Character	愛
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	影 (34)
Final (韻)	咍 (41)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	烏代切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʔʌiH/
Pan Wuyun	/ʔəiH/
Shao Rongfen	/ʔɒiH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʔəjH/
Li Rong	/ʔᴀiH/
Wang Li	/ɒiH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʔɑ̆iH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	ài
Expected Cantonese Reflex	oi3

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[q]ˤə[p]-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*qɯːds/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	愛
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	ài
Middle Chinese	‹ ʔojH ›
Old Chinese	/*[q]ˁə[p]-s/
English	to love; to grudge (< ‘draw close to oneself’?)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	愛
Reading #	1/1
No.	1
Phonetic component	愛
Rime group	隊
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	愛
Old Chinese	/*qɯːds/
Notes	說文本從心旡聲

Definitions

愛

1. to love

   愛國／爱国  ―  àiguó  ―  to love one's country; to be patriotic

   我愛你。／我爱你。  ―  Wǒ ài nǐ.  ―  I love you.

   • 愛而不見、搔首踟躕。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     爱而不见、搔首踟蹰。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Ài ér bùjiàn, sāoshǒu chíchú. [Pinyin]

     Loving yet not seeing her, I scratch my head, and walk back and forth in perplexity.

   • 仁者愛人，有禮者敬人。愛人者人恆愛之，敬人者人恆敬之。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     仁者爱人，有礼者敬人。爱人者人恒爱之，敬人者人恒敬之。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Rén zhě ài rén, yǒulǐ zhě jìng rén. Ài rén zhě rén héng ài zhī, jìng rén zhě rén héng jìng zhī. [Pinyin]

     A benevolent person loves others. A person of propriety shows respect to others. Those who love others are constantly loved by them. Those who respect others are constantly respected by them.

   • 吾至愛汝，即此愛汝一念，使吾勇於就死也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     吾至爱汝，即此爱汝一念，使吾勇于就死也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1911, Lin Juemin, Farewell Letter to Yiying (《與妻訣別書》)

     Wú zhì ài rǔ, jí cǐ ài rǔ yī niàn, shǐ wú yǒngyú jiù sǐ yě. [Pinyin]

     I love you deeply, and it is this single thought of loving you that enables me to take courage in the face of imminent death.

2. to treasure; to value

   愛面子／爱面子  ―  ài miànzi  ―  to be sensitive about one's reputation

   • 夏不衣裘，非愛裘也，暖有餘也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     夏不衣裘，非爱裘也，暖有余也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

     Xià bù yì qiú, fēi ài qiú yě, nuǎn yǒuyú yě. [Pinyin]

     One does not wear fur in summer not because he treasures fur, but because it is already more than warm.

   • 願大王毋愛財物。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     愿大王毋爱财物。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Yuàn dàiwáng wú ài cáiwù. [Pinyin]

     Might I suggest that Your Majesty be not keenly attached to the riches.

3. to like; to be fond of; to be keen on

   他愛說話。／他爱说话。  ―  Tā ài shuōhuà.  ―  He likes to talk.

   我不愛吃豬肉。／我不爱吃猪肉。  ―  Wǒ bù ài chī zhūròu.  ―  I don't like to eat pork.

   • 愛之欲其生，惡之欲其死。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     爱之欲其生，恶之欲其死。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Ài zhī yù qí shēng, wù zhī yù qí sǐ. [Pinyin]

     You love a man and wish him to live; you hate him and wish him to die.

   • 予獨愛蓮之出淤泥而不染。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1063, Zhou Dunyi, 《愛蓮說》 (On the Love for the Lotus)

     Yú dú ài lián zhī chū yūní ér bù rǎn. [Pinyin]

     What I like about the lotus is the fact that it grows out of pond dregs yet is not caught in the filth.

4. to begrudge; to be reluctant

   • 申生不敢愛其死。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     申生不敢爱其死。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Shēnshēng bùgǎn ài qí sǐ. [Pinyin]

     I, Shensheng, do not presume to grudge dying.

   • 齊國雖褊小，吾何愛一牛？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     齐国虽褊小，吾何爱一牛？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Qíguó suī biǎnxiǎo, wú hé ài yī niú? [Pinyin]

     But though Qi be a small and narrow State, how should I grudge one ox?

   • 獨子愛其死乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     独子爱其死乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Yang Xiong, Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings), 9 CE, translated based on Jeffrey S. Bullock's version

     Dú zǐ ài qí sǐ hū? [Pinyin]

     Do you alone begrudge your death?

5. to be prone; to be easy to

   愛發脾氣／爱发脾气  ―  ài fāpíqì  ―  to be short-tempered

   鐵愛生鏽。／铁爱生锈。  ―  Tiě ài shēngxiù.  ―  Iron rusts easily.

6. love; affection

   • 世上決沒有無緣無故的愛，也沒有無緣無故的恨。 [MSC, trad.]
     世上决没有无缘无故的爱，也没有无缘无故的恨。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1942, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《在延安文藝座談會上的講話》 (Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

     Shìshàng jué méiyǒu wúyuánwúgù de ài, yě méiyǒu wúyuánwúgù de hèn. [Pinyin]

     There is absolutely no such thing in the world as love or hatred with out reason or cause.

7. love; benevolence

   遺愛人間／遗爱人间  ―  yí'àirénjiān  ―  to leave love behind

8. something one loves; someone whom one loves

   割愛／割爱  ―  gē'ài  ―  to sacrifice something one loves to someone else

9. Honorific for someone else's daughter; variant of 嬡／嫒 (ài).

   令愛／令爱  ―  lìng'ài  ―  your precious daughter

10. beloved

    愛妻／爱妻  ―  àiqī  ―  beloved wife

    愛將／爱将  ―  àijiàng  ―  beloved general

11. (Cantonese, Hakka, Wu, Teochew) to want (an object)

    我唔愛咁多。／我唔爱咁多。 [Cantonese]  ―  ngo⁵ m⁴ oi³ gam³ do¹. [Jyutping]  ―  I don't want that much.

    • 快樂就係 想愛麼個就得著 [Sixian Hakka, trad.]
      快乐就系 想爱么个就得着 [Sixian Hakka, simp.]

      From: (Can we date this quote?), 饒瑞軍 (lyrics), Tetsurō Oda (music), 《快樂希望》 (Hakka version of Yume Ippai), performed by 龔心怡

      khoai-lo̍k chhiu he sióng oi mak-ke chhiu tet-tó [Pha̍k-fa-sṳ]

      (please add an English translation of this example)

12. (Hakka, Min) to want (to do)
13. (Hakka, Min) to need to; must

    有一點愛注意的。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, trad.]
    有一点爱注意的。 [Taiwanese Hokkien, simp.]

    Ū chi̍t tiám ài chù-ì--ê. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

    There's one thing you must bear in mind.

14. (archaic) Alternative form of 薆／𫉁 (ài, “to hide”).

    • 愛而不見 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      爱而不见 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: c. 7th century BCE, Shijing, 《邶風‧靜女》

      ài ér bù xiàn [Pinyin]

      She hides herself and does not appear.

15. a surname

Usage notes

• When used for people, 愛／爱 usually refers to romantic love. When used like this, older Mandarin speakers often describe the use of this term as overly 肉麻 (ròumá, “overly romantic; corny; cheesy”). For this reason, the word 喜歡／喜欢 (xǐhuan, “to like”) might be used instead. Using the word 喜歡／喜欢 (xǐhuan) literally means like, but when used in a romantic context (especially boyfriend/girlfriend), it actually means love. Compare Japanese 好き (suki). However, younger Mandarin speakers, especially those who have been in love for some time, seem to have been influenced somewhat by Western culture, and are now using the verb 愛／爱 much more often than was socially acceptable in the past.

Synonyms

• (to love): (literary, or in compounds) 戀／恋 (liàn)
• (to like):

Dialectal synonyms of 喜歡 (“to like”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		好, 喜好, 愛好, 字
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		喜歡, 喜愛, 喜好, 愛好
Mandarin	Beijing	喜歡, 好希, 稀罕, 愛
	Taiwan	喜歡, 愛
	Jinan	喜歡
	Xi'an	喜歡, 愛
	Wuhan	喜歡, 愛
	Chengdu	喜歡, 歡喜, 愛
	Chongqing	喜歡, 歡喜
	Guilin	喜歡
	Yangzhou	歡喜
	Hefei	喜歡
	Malaysia	喜歡
	Singapore	喜歡
Cantonese	Guangzhou	中意, 歡喜
	Hong Kong	中意, 好
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	中意
	Macau	中意
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	中意
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	中意
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	中意
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	中意
	Foshan	中意
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	中意
	Foshan (Shunde)	中意
	Foshan (Sanshui)	中意
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	中意
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	歡喜, 中意
	Zhuhai (Qianshan)	中意
	Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)	中意
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	中意
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	中意
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	中意
	Taishan	中意
	Kaiping (Chikan)	爽心, 中意
	Enping (Niujiang)	中意
	Heshan (Yayao)	中意
	Dongguan	中意
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	中意
	Yangjiang	中意, 歡喜
	Beihai	中意
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)	中意
	Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà)	中意, 喜歡
	Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)	中意
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	中意, 蘇格
	Singapore (Guangfu)	中意
	Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)	中意
	Móng Cái	中意
Gan	Nanchang	歡喜
Hakka	Meixian	中意, 好
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	中意
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	中意
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	中意
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	中意
	Conghua (Lütian)	歡喜
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	中意, 好
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	中意, 好
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	中意, 好
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	中意, 合意, 好
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	中意, 好
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	佮意, 愛
	Senai (Huiyang)	中意
	Kuching (Hepo)	蘇格
Jin	Taiyuan	喜歡, 待見
Min Bei	Jian'ou	愛, 喜歡
Min Dong	Fuzhou	歡喜, 中意, 愛
Min Nan	Xiamen	歡喜, 意愛, 愛, 佮意, 舒合
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	佮意
	Quanzhou	歡喜, 意愛, 愛, 佮意
	Shishi	佮意
	Zhangzhou	歡喜, 愛, 佮意
	Tainan	佮意, 意愛, 愛
	Penang (Hokkien)	舒合, 愛
	Singapore (Hokkien)	舒合, 愛
	Manila (Hokkien)	愛, 佮意
	Chaozhou	歡喜, 愛, 喜歡
	Shantou	歡喜
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	好, 尚, 喜歡
	Jieyang	歡喜, 愛, 好, 尚, 喜歡
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	喜歡
	Singapore (Teochew)	舒合
	Wenchang	歡喜
Zhongshan Min	Shaxi (Longdu)	中意
Waxiang	Guzhang (Gaofeng)	字
Wu	Shanghai	歡喜
	Suzhou	歡喜
	Ningbo	歡喜, 看相, 中意 dated
	Wenzhou	喜歡
Xiang	Changsha	喜歡
	Shuangfeng	喜歡

• (to want an object):

Dialectal synonyms of 要 (“to wish to have; to want (an object)”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		要
Mandarin	Beijing	要
	Taiwan	要
	Yantai (Muping)	要
	Jinan	要
	Wanrong	要
	Xi'an	要
	Wuhan	要
	Chengdu	要
	Guiyang	要
	Guilin	要
	Hefei	要
	Singapore	要
Cantonese	Guangzhou	要, 愛
	Hong Kong	要, 愛
	Yangjiang	愛, 捰
	Singapore (Guangfu)	要
Gan	Nanchang	要
	Lichuan	要
Hakka	Meixian	愛
	Longmen (Luxi Bendihua)	愛
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	愛
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	愛
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	愛
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	愛
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	愛
Huizhou	Jixi	要
Jin	Taiyuan	要
Min Bei	Jian'ou	讓
Min Dong	Fuzhou	欲挃, 挃
Min Nan	Xiamen	欲挃
	Quanzhou	欲挃
	Zhangzhou	欲挃
	Tainan	欲挃
	Singapore (Hokkien)	愛
	Chaozhou	愛
	Jieyang	愛
	Singapore (Teochew)	愛
	Wenchang	要
	Singapore (Hainanese)	要
Wu	Suzhou	要
	Wenzhou	要
Xiang	Changsha	要
	Loudi	要

• (to want to do something):

Dialectal synonyms of 要 (“to want (to do something)”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		欲1
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		要, 欲1
Mandarin	Beijing	要
	Taiwan	要, 想
	Jinan	要
	Xi'an	要
	Wuhan	要
	Chengdu	要
	Guilin	要
	Yangzhou	要
	Hefei	要
	Malaysia	要
	Singapore	要
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	要
Cantonese	Guangzhou	要, 想
	Hong Kong	要, 想
	Shenzhen (Dapeng)	愛
	Yangjiang	愛
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	要, 想, 愛
	Singapore (Guangfu)	要, 想
Gan	Nanchang	要
Hakka	Meixian	愛
	Longmen (Luxi Bendihua)	愛
	Wuhua (Meilin)	愛
	Zijin	愛
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	愛
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	愛
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	愛
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	愛
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	愛
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	愛, 討
	Kuching (Hepo)	愛
Jin	Taiyuan	要
Min Bei	Jian'ou	讓
Min Dong	Fuzhou	欲3
Min Nan	Xiamen	欲3
	Quanzhou	欲3
	Jinjiang	欲3
	Zhangzhou	欲3
	Taipei	欲3
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	欲3
	Kaohsiung	欲3
	Yilan	欲3
	Changhua (Lukang)	欲3
	Taichung	欲3
	Tainan	欲3
	Hsinchu	欲3
	Kinmen	欲3
	Penghu (Magong)	欲3
	Penang (Hokkien)	愛
	Singapore (Hokkien)	愛, 欲3
	Manila (Hokkien)	欲3, 愛
	Medan (Hokkien)	愛
	Chaozhou	愛
	Shantou	愛
	Haifeng	愛
	Singapore (Teochew)	愛
	Wenchang	欲3
	Qionghai	欲3
	Singapore (Hainanese)	欲3
Wu	Shanghai	要
	Suzhou	要
	Wenzhou	愛
Xiang	Changsha	要
	Shuangfeng	要

Compounds

Derived terms from 愛

• 三角戀愛／三角恋爱
• 人見人愛／人见人爱
• 仁愛／仁爱
• 仁愛之家／仁爱之家
• 仁民愛物／仁民爱物
• 令愛／令爱
• 作愛／作爱
• 信愛／信爱
• 偏愛／偏爱
• 兼愛／兼爱
• 冬日可愛／冬日可爱
• 切愛／切爱
• 割愛／割爱
• 勤政愛民／勤政爱民
• 北愛爾蘭／北爱尔兰
• 博愛／博爱
• 博愛座／博爱座
• 博愛濟群／博爱济群
• 厚愛／厚爱
• 友愛／友爱
• 可愛／可爱
• 吾愛／吾爱
• 喜愛／喜爱
• 垂愛／垂爱
• 墜入愛河／坠入爱河
• 大愛／大爱
• 嫌貧愛富／嫌贫爱富
• 寵愛／宠爱
• 寶愛／宝爱
• 將愛／将爱
• 尊賢愛物／尊贤爱物
• 屋烏推愛／屋乌推爱
• 廝敬廝愛／厮敬厮爱
• 心愛／心爱
• 忝在愛末／忝在爱末
• 忠君愛國／忠君爱国
• 性愛／性爱
• 恃愛／恃爱
• 恩愛／恩爱
• 情愛／情爱
• 惹人憐愛／惹人怜爱
• 愛丁堡／爱丁堡
• 愛上／爱上
• 愛不忍釋／爱不忍释
• 愛不釋手／爱不释手
• 愛人／爱人
• 愛人以德／爱人以德
• 愛人兒／爱人儿
• 愛人好士／爱人好士
• 愛人如己／爱人如己
• 愛侶／爱侣
• 愛克斯光／爱克斯光
• 愛克斯射線／爱克斯射线
• 愛八哥兒／爱八哥儿
• 愛別離苦／爱别离苦
• 愛勢貪財／爱势贪财
• 愛卿／爱卿
• 愛國／爱国
• 愛國主義／爱国主义
• 愛國如家／爱国如家
• 愛國獎券／爱国奖券
• 愛國者／爱国者
• 愛奧尼亞／爱奥尼亚
• 愛女／爱女
• 愛好／爱好
• 愛好兒／爱好儿
• 愛妻／爱妻
• 愛妾／爱妾
• 愛妾換馬／爱妾换马
• 愛姬／爱姬
• 愛子／爱子
• 愛富嫌貧／爱富嫌贫
• 愛寵／爱宠
• 愛將／爱将
• 愛小／爱小
• 愛屋及烏／爱屋及乌
• 愛巢／爱巢
• 愛巴物兒／爱巴物儿

• 愛幸／爱幸
• 愛彌兒／爱弥儿
• 愛德華島／爱德华岛
• 愛德華湖／爱德华湖
• 愛心／爱心
• 愛心券／爱心券
• 愛心彩券／爱心彩券
• 愛怎麼著怎麼著／爱怎么着怎么着
• 愛恨交織／爱恨交织
• 愛悅／爱悦
• 愛情／爱情
• 愛惜／爱惜
• 愛惜羽毛／爱惜羽毛
• 愛意／爱意
• 愛慕／爱慕
• 愛憎／爱憎
• 愛憎分明／爱憎分明
• 愛憐／爱怜
• 愛戀／爱恋
• 愛戴／爱戴
• 愛才／爱才
• 愛才好士／爱才好士
• 愛才如命／爱才如命
• 愛才若渴／爱才若渴
• 愛撫／爱抚
• 愛斯／爱斯
• 愛斯基摩／爱斯基摩
• 愛斯基摩人／爱斯基摩人
• 愛新覺羅／爱新觉罗
• 愛日／爱日
• 愛日惜力／爱日惜力
• 愛染／爱染
• 愛樹／爱树
• 愛毛反裘／爱毛反裘
• 愛民如子／爱民如子
• 愛沙尼亞／爱沙尼亚
• 愛河／爱河
• 愛洛娜／爱洛娜
• 愛海／爱海
• 愛滋病／爱滋病
• 愛火／爱火
• 愛爾蘭／爱尔兰
• 愛爾蘭海／爱尔兰海
• 愛物兒／爱物儿
• 愛玉／爱玉
• 愛玉冰／爱玉冰
• 愛玉凍／爱玉冻
• 愛玩／爱玩
• 愛現／爱现
• 愛理不理／爱理不理
• 愛琴文化／爱琴文化
• 愛琴海／爱琴海
• 愛的教育／爱的教育
• 愛的鼓勵／爱的鼓励
• 愛睏／爱困
• 愛神／爱神
• 愛稱／爱称
• 愛窩窩／爱窝窝
• 愛答不理／爱答不理
• 愛筵／爱筵
• 愛羅斯／爱罗斯
• 愛美／爱美
• 愛群／爱群
• 愛老憐貧／爱老怜贫
• 愛荷華州／爱荷华州
• 愛莫之助／爱莫之助
• 愛莫能助／爱莫能助
• 愛親做親／爱亲做亲
• 愛護／爱护
• 愛財／爱财
• 愛財如命／爱财如命
• 愛達荷州／爱达荷州
• 愛遠惡近／爱远恶近
• 愛錢如命／爱钱如命
• 愛面子／爱面子
• 愛顧／爱顾
• 慈愛／慈爱
• 憂國愛民／忧国爱民

• 憐愛／怜爱
• 戀愛／恋爱
• 抬愛／抬爱
• 拉愛麥／拉爱麦
• 拊愛／拊爱
• 推誠愛物／推诚爱物
• 摯愛／挚爱
• 撫愛／抚爱
• 教育愛／教育爱
• 敬上愛下／敬上爱下
• 敬天愛民／敬天爱民
• 敬愛／敬爱
• 敬時愛日／敬时爱日
• 昵愛／昵爱
• 暱愛／昵爱
• 杭愛山／杭爱山
• 橫刀奪愛／横刀夺爱
• 母性愛／母性爱
• 母愛／母爱
• 永浴愛河／永浴爱河
• 氾愛／氾爱
• 求愛／求爱
• 汎愛／泛爱
• 渴愛／渴爱
• 溺愛／溺爱
• 潔己愛人／洁己爱人
• 潔身自愛／洁身自爱
• 濟世愛民／济世爱民
• 熱愛／热爱
• 熾愛／炽爱
• 父愛／父爱
• 珍愛／珍爱
• 甘棠遺愛／甘棠遗爱
• 男歡女愛／男欢女爱
• 畏天愛民／畏天爱民
• 疼愛／疼爱
• 痛愛／痛爱
• 百般恩愛／百般恩爱
• 相愛／相爱
• 相親相愛／相亲相爱
• 眷愛／眷爱
• 示愛／示爱
• 禽犢之愛／禽犊之爱
• 秦歡晉愛／秦欢晋爱
• 節用愛人／节用爱人
• 篤志愛古／笃志爱古
• 篤愛／笃爱
• 簡愛／简爱
• 純愛／纯爱
• 綈袍垂愛／绨袍垂爱
• 肌膚之愛／肌肤之爱
• 自愛／自爱
• 自由戀愛／自由恋爱
• 舊愛宿恩／旧爱宿恩
• 舐犢之愛／舐犊之爱
• 色衰愛寢／色衰爱寝
• 色衰愛弛／色衰爱弛
• 著愛:tio̍h-ài／著爱:tio̍h-ài
• 蒙愛／蒙爱
• 見愛／见爱
• 覓愛追歡／觅爱追欢
• 親愛／亲爱
• 親愛的／亲爱的
• 親愛精誠／亲爱精诚
• 談情說愛／谈情说爱
• 談戀愛／谈恋爱
• 謬愛／谬爱
• 貪愛／贪爱
• 速食戀愛／速食恋爱
• 過愛／过爱
• 遺愛／遗爱
• 酷愛／酷爱
• 錯愛／错爱
• 鍾愛／钟爱
• 關愛／关爱
• 隆愛／隆爱
• 雅愛／雅爱
• 高情厚愛／高情厚爱

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (愛):

• → Japanese: 愛(あい) (ai)
• → Korean: 애(愛) (ae)
• → Vietnamese: ái (愛)

Others:

• →? Proto-Hlai: *ʔəːp (“to love”)

Further reading

• “Entry #9456”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

Japanese

Kanji

愛

(grade 4 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: あい (ai, Jōyō); お (o)
• Kan-on: あい (ai, Jōyō)
• Kun: いつくしむ (itsukushimu, 愛しむ); いとしい (itoshii, 愛しい); いとおしむ (itooshimu, 愛おしむ); かなしい (kanashii, 愛しい); おしむ (oshimu, 愛しむ); まな (mana, 愛); めでる (mederu, 愛でる); うい (ui, 愛い)
• Nanori: あ (a); あい (ai); あし (ashi); え (e); かな (kana); なる (naru); めぐ (megu); めぐみ (megumi); よし (yoshi); ちか (chika)

Compounds

Compounds

• 愛(あい)玩(がん) (aigan)
• 愛(あい)機(き) (aiki)
• 愛(あい)敬(きょう) (aikyō)
• 愛(あい)顧(こ) (aiko)
• 愛(あい)護(ご) (aigo)
• 愛(あい)国(こく) (aikoku)
• 愛(あい)妻(さい) (aisai, “one's beloved wife”)
• 愛(あい)児(じ) (aiji)
• 愛(あい)車(しゃ) (aisha, “one's beloved car”)
• 愛(あい)社(しゃ) (aisha)
• 愛(あい)唱(しょう) (aishō)
• 愛(あい)称(しょう) (aishō)
• 愛(あい)人(じん) (aijin)
• 愛(あい)想(そう) (aisō)
• 愛(あい)憎(ぞう) (aizō)
• 愛(あい)着(ちゃく) (aichaku, “affection (to things)”)
• 愛(あい)鳥(ちょう) (aichō)
• 愛(あい)読(どく) (aidoku, “loving to read”)
• 愛(あい)用(よう) (aiyō, “loving to use”)
• 性(せい)愛(あい) (seiai, “eros”)
• 聖(せい)愛(あい) (seiai, “pure love”)
• 寵(ちょう)愛(あい) (chōai)
• 可愛(かわい)い (kawaii)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
愛
あい Grade: 4
on’yomi

From Middle Chinese 愛 (MC ʔʌi^H).

Compare modern Mandarin 愛／爱 (ài).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あ​い [áꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [a̠i]

Noun

愛(あい) • (ai) 

1. love

   愛(あい)は強(つよ)い。

   Ai wa tsuyoi.

   The love is strong.

   愛(あい)は勝(か)つ。

   Ai wa katsu.

   The love wins.

2. affection

   Synonym: 愛情 (aijō)

3. tenderness
4. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

   Synonym: 愛想 (aiso)

5. (Buddhism) This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
6. (Christianity) agape

Synonyms

• (love, generally more passionate or erotic): 恋(こい) (koi), 恋愛(れんあい) (ren'ai)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 愛(あい)する (aisuru, “to love”)
• 愛(あい)らしい (airashii, “lovely”)
• 愛(あい)してる (aishiteru, “I love you”)
• 愛(あい)をする (ai o suru)
• 屋(おく)烏(う)の愛(あい) (okuu no ai)

Proper noun

愛(あい) • (Ai) 

1. a female given name
2. a surname

Affix

愛(あい) • (ai) 

1. love
2. (US) Short for 愛州 (“Idaho (a state of the United States)”).
   • https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ46nNryMzAC&pg=PA2

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
愛
まな Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
真

Originally a compound of 真 (ma, “true, genuine”) +‎ な (na), an Old Japanese version of modern Japanese の (no, possessive particle).

The use of 愛 here is an example of ateji (当て字).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) まな [màná] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ma̠na̠]

Prefix

愛(まな) • (mana-) 

1. before a common noun, expresses a sense of admiration or value: good, genuine; compare English the real deal
2. before a noun describing a person, expresses praise or fondness: dear, beloved

Derived terms

• 愛(まな)弟子(でし) (manadeshi)
• 愛(まな)娘(むすめ) (manamusume)

Noun

愛(まな) • (mana) 

1. (archaic, derived from prefix sense) something dear or loved

Proper noun

愛(まな) • (Mana) 

1. a female given name

Etymology 3

Used as ateji in various names. 愛 is a very common element in many names.

Proper noun

愛(あづみ) or 愛(ああい) or 愛(あいか) or 愛(あいす) or 愛(あき) or 愛(あこ) or 愛(あみか) or 愛(あおい) or 愛(ありさ) or 愛(あや) or 愛(あゆ) or 愛(ちぎり) or 愛(ちか) or 愛(ちかし) or 愛(えりな) or 愛(はあと) or 愛(ひかり) or 愛(いと) or 愛(いとし) or 愛(いつみ) or 愛(いずみ) or 愛(かな) or 愛(かなえ) or 愛(かなさ) or 愛(きずな) or 愛(こころ) or 愛(このむ) or 愛(まどか) or 愛(まなぶ) or 愛(まなみ) or 愛(めづる) or 愛(めご) or 愛(めぐ) or 愛(めぐみ) or 愛(めぐむ) or 愛(めい) or 愛(なる) or 愛(なるこ) or 愛(のぞみ) or 愛(らぶ) or 愛(るい) or 愛(さら) or 愛(さらん) or 愛(つぐみ) or 愛(つくみ) or 愛(うい) or 愛(よし) or 愛(よしき) or 愛(よしみ) • (Azumi or Āi or Aika or Aisu or Aki or Ako or Amika or Aoi or Arisa or Aya or Ayu or Chigiri or Chika or Chikashi or Erina or Hāto or Hikari or Ito or Itoshi or Itsumi or Izumi or Kana or Kanae or Kanasa or Kizuna or Kokoro or Konomu or Madoka or Manabu or Manami or Mezuru or Mego or Megu or Megumi or Megumu or Mei or Naru or Naruko or Nozomi or Rabu or Rui or Sara or Saran or Tsugumi or Tsukumi or Ui or Yoshi or Yoshiki or Yoshimi) 

1. a female given name

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 愛 (MC ʔʌi^H).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᅙᆡᆼ〮 (Yale: qóy)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[1]	ᄃᆞᅀᆞᆯ〮 (Yale: dòzól)	ᄋᆡ〯 (Yale: ǒy)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ɛ(ː)] ~ [e̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [애(ː)/에(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource

愛 (eumhun 사랑 애 (sarang ae))

1. Hanja form^? of 애 (“love”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 애차 (愛車, aecha)
• 애착 (愛着, aechak)
• 애처 (愛妻, aecheo)
• 애칭 (愛稱, aeching)
• 애독 (愛讀, aedok)
• 애고 (愛顧, aego)
• 애국 (愛國, aeguk)
• 애견 (愛犬, aegyeon)
• 애교 (愛嬌, aegyo)
• 애호 (愛好, aeho)
• 애호 (愛護, aeho)
• 애인 (愛人, aein)
• 애정 (愛情, aejeong)
• 애증 (愛憎, aejeung)
• 애마 (愛馬, aema)
• 애무 (愛撫, aemu)
• 애식 (愛息, aesik)
• 애월 (愛月, aewol)
• 가애 (可愛, gaae)
• 갈애 (渴愛, garae)
• 경애 (敬愛, gyeong'ae)
• 할애 (割愛, harae)
• 친애 (親愛, chinae)
• 동성애 (同性愛, dongseong'ae)
• 애장판 (愛藏版, aejangpan)
• 이성애 (異性愛, iseong'ae)
• 자기애 (自己愛, jagiae)
• 무성애 (無性愛, museong'ae)
• 애완동물 (愛玩動物, aewandongmul)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

Okinawan

Kanji

愛

(grade 4 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Kun: かなさん (kanasan, 愛さん)

Old Japanese

Alternative forms

• 眞

Etymology

Originally a compound of 眞 (ma, “true, genuine”) +‎ な (na, apophonic form of possessive particle の (no₂)).

Noun

愛 (mana) (kana まな)

1. something dear or loved
   • c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 14, poem 3462)

     安志比奇乃夜末佐波妣登乃比登佐波爾麻奈登伊布児我安夜爾可奈思佐

     asi-pi₁ki₂ no₂ yamasapabi₁to₂ no₂ pi₁to₂ sapa ni mana to₂ ipu ko₁ ga aya ni kanasisa

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Derived terms

• 愛子 (manago₁)
• 愛娘 (manamusume₁)

Descendants

• Japanese: 愛 (mana-)

Tày

Noun

愛 (ái)

1. Nôm form of ái (“to love; to want”).

Vietnamese

Han character

愛: Hán Việt readings: ái, áy
愛: Nôm readings: ái, áy, ải

1. chữ Hán form of ái (“love”).
2. Nôm form of áy (“troubled; anxious”).

Compounds

Derived terms

• 愛恩 (ái ân)
• 愛友 (ái hữu)
• 愛卿 (ái khanh)
• 愛力 (ái lực)
• 愛慕 (ái mộ)
• 愛乃 (áy náy)
• 愛國 (ái quốc)
• 愛情 (ái tình)
• 恩愛 (ân ái)
• 博愛 (bác ái)
• 喜怒愛惡 (hỉ nộ ái ố)
• 會愛友 (hội ái hữu)
• 友愛 (hữu ái)
• 可愛 (khả ái)
• 兼愛 (kiêm ái)
• 敬愛 (kính ái)
• 令愛 (lệnh ái)
• 戀愛 (luyến ái)
• 仁愛 (nhân ái)
• 泛愛 (phiếm ái)
• 寵愛 (sủng ái)
• 親愛 (thân ái)
• 情愛 (tình ái)
• 自愛 (tự ái)
• 相親相愛 (tương thân tương ái)
• 憂愛 (ưu ái)