愛

• Reading: あい
• Romaji: ai
• Kanji breakdown: 愛 (ai) — love, affection
• Pronunciation: /a.i/

Meaning

Love; affection; a deep feeling of care and attachment.

A noun representing love in its broadest and deepest sense — romantic love, familial love, love for humanity, and love of country. More literary and weighty than 好き (like/love). Common in compounds: 愛情 (affection), 愛犬 (beloved dog), 恋愛 (romantic love). Also a popular name for girls.

Examples

1. 親の愛は何よりも深い。 A parent's love is deeper than anything.
2. 愛があれば困難も乗り越えられる。 With love, you can overcome any hardship.
3. 動物への愛を持つ人が増えている。 More and more people are showing love for animals.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, literature, philosophy

Tone: warm

Origin & History

The kanji 愛 depicts a person (夂) with a heart (心) turning back — the image of someone moved by emotion to look back with longing. One of the most culturally significant kanji in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal