爱 Stroke Order — How to Write 爱
爱 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 爫, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
爱 Radical and Character Components
爱 is an ideographic compound. To bring a friend 友 into one's house 冖.
Radical: 爫 + 6 more strokes
爱 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- ài
Meanings of 爱 in Chinese
1
ài爱
To have a deep affection or strong liking for someone or something; to love or cherish.
她热爱生活，总是积极向上。
She loves life passionately and is always positive.
To like; to be fond of; to love (doing something)
我爱学习中文。
I love learning Chinese.
To be prone to; easily (doing something)
小孩子爱哭鼻子。
Children are prone to crying easily.
To cherish and protect; to take good care of something.
我们应该爱护环境。
We should protect the environment.
To begrudge; to be parsimonious or stingy, often implying a reluctance to give or spend something (e.g., money, effort).
公司在研究投入上很爱，不愿意多花一分钱。
The company is very stingy with research investment, unwilling to spend an extra cent.
Common Words and Phrases with 爱
1
love something too much to part with it
小明收到一本精美的画册，爱不忍释地翻阅着，生怕弄坏了书页。
Xiao Ming received an exquisite picture book and read it with such fondness that he couldn't bear to put it down, fearing he might damage the pages.
2
To be so fond of something that one can hardly bear to put it down.
她收到一本有趣的绘本，一打开就爱不释手，看了好久。
She received an interesting picture book, and as soon as she opened it, she couldn't bear to put it down, reading it for a long time.
3
A pet name or a diminutive, a term of endearment used to express affection or fondness.
她喜欢用一些可爱的爱称来称呼她的宠物狗，比如“小宝贝”或“毛茸茸”。
She likes to use some cute terms of endearment for her pet dog, such as 'little baby' or 'fluffy'.
4
To dote on someone; to favor greatly, often like a cherished pet.
她总是爱宠地看着自己养的小狗，觉得它是世界上最可爱的。
She always gazes at her little dog with doting affection, thinking it's the cutest in the world.
5
To be cold and unresponsive; to ignore someone or treat them with indifference.
每次我向他请教问题，他都爱答不理的，让我感到很沮丧。
Every time I ask him for advice, he acts aloof and dismissive, which makes me feel very frustrated.
6
Deep love and respect, often manifested as popular support or reverence.
这位老师因其卓越的教学和亲切的品格深受学生们的爱戴。
This teacher is deeply loved and respected by students for their excellent teaching and kind character.
7
To caress or fondle; to show tender care or affection.
母亲温柔地爱抚着孩子的头发。
The mother gently caressed the child's hair.
8
to love one's country; to be patriotic
爱国体现在每个人为建设美好家园所做的努力中。
Patriotism is demonstrated through everyone's efforts to build a beautiful homeland.
9
Patriotism is love for or devotion to one's country.
这种无私奉献的精神体现了真正的爱国主义。
This spirit of selfless dedication embodies true patriotism.
10
A hobby or something one enjoys doing.
她的爱好是收集邮票和阅读小说。
Her hobbies are collecting stamps and reading novels.
11
A metaphor, often from Buddhist teachings, describing love as an overwhelming force or a state one is immersed in and finds difficult to leave.
他们俩自从坠入爱河后，眼里只有彼此，再也容不下别人。
Since falling into the river of love, they only have eyes for each other, with no room for anyone else.
12
To cherish and take good care of something or someone.
我们应该爱护小动物，不随意伤害它们。
We should cherish and protect small animals, not harming them casually.
13
X-ray; an electromagnetic wave with strong penetrating power, widely used in medicine and science.
医生建议她做爱克斯光检查，以确认骨折的程度。
The doctor recommended she undergo an X-ray examination to confirm the extent of the bone fracture.
14
show tenderness towards
奶奶总是用充满爱怜的目光看着她的孙女
Grandma always looks at her granddaughter with eyes full of tender affection.
15
To be deeply in love with or attached to.
他们之间的爱恋，是经历了岁月考验的真挚情感。
The love between them was a sincere emotion that had stood the test of time.
16
lover; beloved partner
这对爱侣手牵手走在公园里，享受着宁静的午后时光。
This loving couple walked hand in hand in the park, enjoying the peaceful afternoon.
More words with 爱
- kě可ài爱lovable, lovely, or cute
- chǒng宠ài爱To dote on; to pamper.
- ēn恩ài爱conjugal love, mutual affection
- jìng敬ài爱Respect and love
- kù酷ài爱love passionately, be obsessed with
- mǔ母ài爱Maternal love, Mother's love
- téng疼ài爱cherish, love dearly
- xīn心ài爱beloved; cherished
- yǒu友ài爱Friendly affection; fraternal love.
- zhōng钟ài爱deeply love, cherish
- bó博ài爱Universal love, Fraternity
- chī痴ài爱Infatuation, Obsessive love
- chuí垂ài爱show favor, bestow favor
- cí慈ài爱loving kindness, compassionate love
- cuò错ài爱Misplaced love, Mistaken love
- fàn泛ài爱Universal love, Widespread love
- gē割ài爱sacrifice, part with something beloved
- hòu厚ài爱deep love, great kindness
- liàn恋ài爱Love, to be in love
- qíng情ài爱Love, Affection
Idioms with 爱
- ài爱cái才rú如mìng命cherish talent as life
- ài爱cái才ruò若kě渴eagerly seek and cherish talent
- ài爱cái财rú如mìng命to love money as much as one's life
- ài爱fù富xián嫌pín贫favor the rich and despise the poor
- ài爱guó国rú如jiā家
- ài爱lǐ理bù不lǐ理aloof and indifferent
- ài爱mín民rú如zǐ子cherish the people as one's own children
- ài爱mò莫néng能zhù助willing to help but powerless
- ài爱qián钱rú如mìng命love money more than life
- ài爱wū屋jí及wū乌Love extends to all related to a person
- ài爱zēng憎fēn分míng明clear-cut in likes and dislikes
- bù不zhī知zì自ài爱lack self-respect
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Open the tool →Questions about 爱
What does 爱 mean in Chinese?
爱 (ài) means “To like” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 爱?
爱 is pronounced ài in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 爱 have?
爱 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 爱?
爱 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical 爫. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 爱?
The radical of 爱 is 爫, and 爱 is an ideographic compound.
