爱惜

• Pinyin: ài xī
• Hanzi breakdown: 爱 = love; 惜 = 忄(heart) + 昔 (past), meaning to cherish

Meaning

To cherish; to treasure; to take good care of.

Describes treating something with care because of its value. Often used for health, possessions, resources, or talents. More literary than 珍惜 and emphasizes protective care.

Examples

1. 要爱惜自己的身体，别老是熬夜加班。 Take care of your health — don't keep staying up late for work.
2. 这把吉他是爷爷传给我的，我一直很爱惜它。 This guitar was passed down to me by my grandfather. I've always treasured it.
3. 我们应该爱惜粮食，不要浪费。 We should cherish food and not waste it.

Usage Guide

Context: advice, everyday

Tone: caring

Do Say

• 爱惜羽毛是每个公众人物的必修课。(Protecting one's reputation is essential for every public figure.)
• 她很爱惜自己的东西。(She takes very good care of her things.)

Don't Say

• 说'爱惜这个任务' (Don't use 爱惜 for abstract tasks — it's for tangible things or resources)

Origin & History

爱 (love) + 惜 (cherish/regret losing). Together they emphasize loving care to prevent loss or damage.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal