愛想

• Reading: あいそ
• Romaji: aiso
• Kanji breakdown: 愛 (ai) — love, affection; 想 (sou) — thought, feeling
• Pronunciation: /a.i.so/

Meaning

Amiability; friendliness; sociability. A pleasant manner in dealing with others.

A noun describing outward friendliness or charm in social interactions. Commonly appears in set expressions like 愛想がいい (friendly, pleasant) and 愛想が尽きる (to lose patience with someone). Also used in 愛想笑い (polite laughter).

Examples

1. あの店員はいつも愛想がよくて気持ちがいい。 That store clerk is always so friendly — it's a pleasure to be there.
2. 彼女の愛想のなさに、みんな驚いていた。 Everyone was surprised by how unfriendly she was.
3. 無理に愛想笑いをするのは疲れる。 Forcing a polite smile all the time is exhausting.

Usage Guide

Context: social interaction, workplace, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 愛 (ai, love/affection) + 想 (sou, thought/feeling). Originally meaning 'affectionate feelings,' it evolved to describe outward sociability.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal