verb / noun HSK 1
Traditional 愛
to love · to like · love · affection
Meaning
爱 is one of the most fundamental words in Chinese, expressing deep affection, love, or strong liking. It can be used for romantic love, family love, or simply things you really enjoy. As a verb, it means 'to love' or 'to like very much'; as a noun, it means 'love' itself.
Usage
Native speakers use 爱 for strong positive feelings toward people, activities, or things. It's more intense than 喜欢 (to like). Common in phrases like 我爱你 (I love you) or 我爱吃... (I love eating...). It can be used casually for hobbies or seriously for romantic/family relationships.
Examples
- 01我爱你。.I love you.
- 02我爱吃米饭。.I love eating rice.
Common collocations
- 我爱你I love you
- 爱吃to love eating
- 爱好hobby, interest
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 愛 contains 心 (heart) at the bottom, symbolizing that love comes from the heart. The simplified form 爱 removes some strokes but keeps the character recognizable.