1.
to admire, to appreciate, to take pleasure in the beauty of
To appreciate or take pleasure in the beauty of nature, art, or other aesthetically pleasing things. A somewhat literary or elevated word that conveys mindful, unhurried appreciation.
花を愛でる。
To admire the flowers.
月を愛でながら酒を飲んだ。
We drank sake while admiring the moon.
庭に咲いた紅葉を愛でるのが、秋の楽しみのひとつだ。
Admiring the autumn leaves blooming in the garden is one of the joys of fall.
愛でる is a literary and refined verb for appreciating beauty, especially in nature.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pattern: ～を愛でる
ASPECT (ている):
愛でている describes the ongoing act of appreciating beauty.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 花を愛でる: to admire flowers
- 月を愛でる: to admire the moon
- 紅葉を愛でる: to admire autumn leaves
- 桜を愛でる: to admire cherry blossoms
RELATED:
The word 愛でたい (auspicious, happy) is derived from the same root. The noun form 愛で (appreciation, admiration) exists but is rare in modern usage.
REGISTER:
Slightly literary and elevated. In everyday speech, 鑑賞する (to appreciate) or 楽しむ (to enjoy) are more common, but 愛でる carries a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensibility.