Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to love; affection; to be fond of; to like

Chinese: 喜爱、爱护或爱情。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “ai” becomes a different word in each tone. 爱 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 爱好ài hàoto like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on
  • 可爱kě àiadorable; cute; lovely
  • 爱情ài qíngromance; love (romantic)
  • 爱人ài renspouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC)
  • 热爱rè àito love ardently; to adore

Example Sentence

我爱我的家人。Wǒ ài wǒ de jiā rén.I love my family.

Iàito loveIdeof家人jiā rénfamily member

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

Simplified from 愛. It means ‘to love, be fond of, cherish; to like (doing); to tend to, be apt to; love, affection’ (爱情, 喜爱, 爱护).

A way to remember it

‘To love / be fond of’: 爱情 (love), 喜爱 (to like).