愛くるしい
あいくるしい
adjective-i
adorable; charming; sweet
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 愛くるしい | 愛くるしくない |
| Past | 愛くるしかった | 愛くるしくなかった |
| て form | 愛くるしくて | 愛くるしくなくて |
| Adverbial | 愛くるしく | — |
| Conditional ば | 愛くるしければ | 愛くるしくなければ |
| Conditional たら | 愛くるしかったら | 愛くるしくなかったら |
1.
adorable; charming; endearingly cute
Describes someone or something that inspires warm affection through their cuteness or innocence. Stronger and more heartfelt than かわいい, often implying a desire to cherish or protect.
赤ちゃんの愛くるしい笑顔に癒された。
I was comforted by the baby's adorable smile.
子猫が愛くるしい目でこちらを見つめていた。
The kitten was gazing at me with its charming eyes.
幼い子供たちが愛くるしい声で歌を歌っている姿を見て、思わず微笑んだ。
I couldn't help smiling when I saw the little children singing in their sweet voices.
USAGE:
A literary, slightly elevated alternative to かわいい. Most often used to describe babies, small children, and baby animals. Less commonly used for adults. Appears more in written language and narration than in casual speech.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 愛くるしい笑顔 (adorable smile)
- 愛くるしい目 (charming eyes)
- 愛くるしい仕草 (endearing gestures)
- 愛くるしい表情 (sweet expression)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- かわいい: cute — the general, everyday word for cuteness; broader in usage
- 愛らしい: lovely, charming — similar to 愛くるしい but slightly more refined and elegant