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

愛憎

ainiku

likes and dislikes

愛情

aijyou

love; affection

愛する

aisuru

love

愛想

aiso

civility; courtesy; praise; sociability; thanks

恋愛

renai

love; love of love; passion; emotion; affections

愛でたい

medetai

auspicious

可愛い

kawaii

beautiful; cute; adorable; charming; dear; darling; pet

可愛がる

kawaigaru

to love; to be affectionate

可愛らしい

kawairashii

Adorable; sweet

好き嫌い

sukikirai

likes and dislikes; I like

愛

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:

私の妹はとても可愛いです。

Watashi no imouto wa totemo kawaii desu

My younger sister is very cute.

My sister is very cute.

私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
妹 (imouto) - It means "younger sister" in Japanese.
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
可愛い (kawaii) - adjective that means "cute" or "pretty"
です (desu) - The verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the formality of the sentence.

私の弟はとても可愛いです。

Watashi no otouto wa totemo kawaii desu

My younger brother is very cute.

My brother is very cute.

私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
弟 (otouto) - It means "younger brother" in Japanese.
は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "my younger brother"
とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
可愛い (kawaii) - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
です (desu) - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a statement or formality

私は彼女の愛を感じます。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjimasu

I feel her love.

私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" belongs to "her"
愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" is the direct object of the sentence
感じます (kanjimasu) - The verb in Japanese that means "to feel" is "感じる" (kanjiru).

私は彼女に愛を授けました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni ai o sazukemashita

I gave her love.

私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
に (ni) - target particle in Japanese, used to indicate the recipient of the action
愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the action
授けました (sazukemashita) - verb meaning "to give" or "to grant" in Japanese, in the past tense and polite

私は彼女の愛を感じる。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjiru

I feel her love.

私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
彼女 - The noun that means "she" in Japanese is "彼女" (kanojo).
の - possessive particle that indicates that "love" belongs to "her"
愛 - The noun that means "love" in Japanese is "愛" (ai).
を - direct object particle that indicates that "love" is the object of the action
感じる - The verb that means "to feel" in Japanese is "感じる" (kanjiru).

私の孫はとても可愛いです。

Watashi no mago wa totemo kawaii desu

My grandson is very cute.

私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
孫 - noun that means "grandson"
は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
とても - adverb meaning "very"
可愛い - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
です - verb that indicates the polite and courteous form of affirming, equivalent to "is"