1.
maternal love; mother's love
The instinctive, protective love a mother feels for her child. Sometimes used more broadly for a nurturing affection toward those weaker than oneself.
母性愛にあふれた人だ。
She is a person full of maternal love.
子犬の世話をするうちに母性愛が芽生えた。
As she cared for the puppy, maternal feelings began to stir.
この物語は、戦争の中で子を守る母性愛の強さを描いている。
This story depicts the strength of a mother's love protecting her child amid war.
Composed of 母性 (motherhood, maternal nature) + 愛 (love).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 母性愛にあふれる: to be full of maternal love
- 母性愛が芽生える: maternal feelings stir / awaken
- 強い母性愛: a strong maternal love
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 父性愛: paternal love — the father's counterpart
- 母性: motherliness — the quality/nature itself, not the love directed at a child