Translation and Meaning of: 愛 - ai
The Japanese word 愛 (あい, ai) is one of those that carries a strong emotional weight, both in the language and in Japanese culture. If you have ever watched a dorama, read a manga, or listened to a Japanese song, you have likely come across it. But what does 愛 really mean? Let's explore its etymology, its use in everyday life, the pictogram, and curiosities that make this word something so special. And if you are studying Japanese, here at Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, you will also learn how to write this kanji and ready-made phrases to include in Anki or another spaced repetition program.
Many people search on Google not only for the meaning of 愛, but also its origin, how it is used in different contexts, and even tips to memorize this kanji. Does it carry the same weight as "love" in Portuguese? Or do the Japanese use it more reservedly? Let’s uncover all this and a bit more throughout this article.
Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 愛
The kanji 愛 has a fascinating history. It is composed of two main parts: the radical 心 (kokoro, heart) at the bottom and the upper component that refers to "affection" or "attachment." Originally, in ancient China, this character represented the sound "ai" and conveyed the idea of a deep, almost uncontrollable feeling. When it arrived in Japan, it retained this meaning but gained nuances specific to local culture.
Interestingly, in ancient writing, the kanji 愛 was even more complex, with additional strokes representing someone looking back with nostalgia. This poetic image helps to understand why this character is so commonly used in romantic and familial contexts to this day. You can almost visualize the scene: someone standing in the middle of the road, turning their face back, unable to move forward without the loved one.
Lies in Japanese Everyday Life
Unlike Portuguese, where we throw around the word "love" in any context, the Japanese are more reserved with 愛. It frequently appears in songs, poems, and strong declarations, but rarely in casual conversations. A Japanese person would hardly say "愛してる" (aishiteru, I love you) to family on a daily basis - this type of phrase is saved for truly special moments. Instead, they use more subtle expressions, like "大好き" (daisuki, I really like you).
But that doesn't mean that 愛 is a rare word. Quite the opposite: it appears in people's names (like Aiko or Ai), in advertising slogans, and even in place names. A famous example is the bridge 愛橋 (Aibashi) in Hokkaido, known as a meeting point for couples. And who hasn't heard of "ai no corrido," that musical rhythm that precisely talks about stories of tragic love? The word is everywhere, but always with that characteristic emotional weight.
Tips for Memorizing and Writing Kanji
If you're struggling to remember how to write 愛, a technique that works well is to break the kanji into parts. Imagine the top component as someone embracing (the curved stroke) protecting the heart (心) below. Another tip is to associate the 13 strokes with stages of a relationship - from the first glance to deep commitment. It may sound silly, but our brain memorizes better when it creates stories.
To practice writing, start with the radicals separated and then combine everything. Pay special attention to the "heart" at the bottom - it should be well-centered so the kanji doesn’t look unbalanced. And if you like apps, try Skritter or Kanji Study, which make practice something almost addictive. A week of writing this kanji every day and it will be etched in your memory - just like the feeling it represents.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 恋愛 (ren'ai) - Romantic relationship
- 愛情 (aijou) - Affection or love
- 愛着 (aichaku) - Attachment or attachment
- 愛護 (aiho) - Care or protection
- 愛憎 (aizō) - Love and hate
- 愛欲 (aiyoku) - Love desire
- 愛慕 (aibo) - Loving admiration
- 愛徳 (aitoku) - Virtue of love
- 愛敬 (aikei) - Loving respect
- 愛好 (aikou) - To appreciate or like something
- 愛犬 (aiken) - Love for dogs
- 愛猫 (ainek) - Love for cats
- 愛妻 (aisai) - Beloved wife
- 愛娘 (aisai) - Beloved daughter
- 愛息 (aishi) - Beloved son
- 愛車 (aisha) - Love for cars
- 愛読 (aidoku) - Appreciated reading
- 愛書 (aisho) - Love for books
- 愛国 (aikoku) - Patriotism
- 愛称 (aishou) - Endearing name
- 愛人 (ainin) - Lover
- 愛想 (aiso) - Kindness
- 愛嬢 (aijou) - Beloved daughter or kind young lady
- 愛犬家 (aikenka) - dog lover
- 愛猫家 (ainekka) - Cat lover
- 愛車家 (aishaka) - Car lover
- 愛読家 (aidokuka) - Reading enthusiast
- 愛書家 (aishouka) - Book lover
- 愛好家 (aikouka) - Appreciator or enthusiast
Related words
Romaji: ai
Kana: あい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: love
Meaning in English: love
Definition: Deep feelings and strong feelings towards others or things.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (愛) ai
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (愛) ai:
Example Sentences - (愛) ai
See below some example sentences:
Mujaki na egao ga totemo kawaii desu
The innocent facial expression is very cute.
The innocent smile is very cute.
- 無邪気な - Innocent, without malice
- 笑顔 - smile
- が - subject particle
- とても - very
- 可愛い - fofo, bonito
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kanojo ni ai wo ataeru
Give her love.
Give her love.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "her"
- に (ni) - a particle indicating the recipient of the action, in this case "to"
- 愛 (ai) - means "love"
- を (wo) - a particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case "giving love"
- 与える (ataeru) - means "to give"
Aizou wa hyouri ittai da
Love and hate are the same currency.
- 愛憎 - Love and hate
- は - connecting particle
- 表裏 - front and back
- 一体 - unity, integrity
- だ - Verb "to be" in the present tense
Akachan wa kawaii desu
Babies are cute.
The baby is cute.
- 赤ん坊 - means "baby" in Japanese.
- は - partopic marker, used to indicate the subject of the sentence, in this case "baby".
- 可愛い - Adjective that means "fluffy" or "cute".
- です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and formal way of affirming something, in this case "is".
Eien ni aishiteru
I will love you forever
Eternal Love
- 永遠に - forever
- 愛してる - I love you
Ai wa sekai wo kaeru chikara wo motte imasu
Love has the power to change the world.
Love has the power to change the world.
- 愛 (ai) - love
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 世界 (sekai) - world
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 変える (kaeru) - change
- 力 (chikara) - power
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 持っています (motteimasu) - I'm sorry, but it seems like the text you provided is incomplete. Please provide a complete string for translation.
- . (ponto final) - punctuation mark
Jounetsuteki na ai wo motte ikiru
Viva com amor apaixonado.
Live with passionate love.
- 情熱的な - passionate, burning
- 愛 - love
- を - direct object particle
- 持って - Land, possess
- 生きる - live
Kobugara na josei wa totemo kawairashii desu
Small women are very cute.
Small women are very cute.
- 小柄な - means "small" or "short"
- 女性 - means "woman"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "the short woman"
- とても - adverb meaning "very"
- 可愛らしい - adjective meaning "cute" or "adorable"
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form
Onnanoko wa kawaii desu
Girls are cute.
The girl is cute.
- 女の子 - It means "girl" in Japanese.
- は - It is a particle that marks the topic of the sentence, which in this case is "girl."
- 可愛い - It means "cute" or "beautiful" in Japanese.
- です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.
Kawaii neko ga imasu
I have a fluffy cat.
I have a fluffy cat.
- 可愛い - Adjective that means "fluffy" or "cute".
- 猫 - The noun that means "cat."
- が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- います - Verb that means "to exist" or "to be present".