愛(あい)

あい
noun
love
literaryemotion
See also: 愛(あい)する (verb form)
1. love
A deep feeling of affection.
I love you.
母(はは)の愛(あい)
A mother's love
He values his love for his family.
A parent's love is unconditional and doesn't change no matter what mistakes their child makes.

愛(あい) refers to deep, enduring love, often with a literary or elevated feel compared to everyday expressions like 好(す)き.

Similar words

  • 愛(あい): profound love (literary, philosophical)
  • 恋(こい): romantic love, passion, infatuation
  • 好(す)き: like, love (casual, everyday)

Common expressions

Compounds

Usage

愛(あい)している is a serious, committed expression of love. In everyday conversation, 好(す)き or 大好(だいす)き is more common for expressing affection.