爱 (ài) means to love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen). Simplified form has 10 strokes under radical 爫.
Though universally understood to mean love, 爱 is rarely used alone in modern Chinese given names because names like 爱华 or 爱珍 carry strong 1950s–1970s generational vibes. If chosen, pair it gently (e.g., 爱琳) or prefer 恩 (grace) and 悦 (joy) for a contemporary feel.
One of the few single-character tattoos that reads naturally and respectfully to native Chinese speakers. Prefer traditional 愛 if you want classical calligraphic balance with the visible 心 (heart) radical inside.
Origin & Visual Logic: Traditional 愛 depicts a hand offering something to a heart (心) while walking slowly—representing tender, lingering affection. The simplified 爱 keeps the welcoming roof and friend (友) component underneath.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 愛 / 爱 | ài | to love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爱情 | àiqíng | romantic love | |
| 热爱 | rè'ài | passionate devotion to | |
| 关爱 | guān'ài | care and affection |
"爱" has 10 strokes in Simplified Chinese (Traditional form: 愛). Its primary dictionary radical is 爫, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Rating: Use with Caution (Feminine-leaning). Though universally understood to mean love, 爱 is rarely used alone in modern Chinese given names because names like 爱华 or 爱珍 carry strong 1950s–1970s generational vibes. If chosen, pair it gently (e.g., 爱琳) or prefer 恩 (grace) and 悦 (joy) for a contemporary feel.
Tattoo rating: Safe & Classic. One of the few single-character tattoos that reads naturally and respectfully to native Chinese speakers. Prefer traditional 愛 if you want classical calligraphic balance with the visible 心 (heart) radical inside.
