Definition
爱 (ài) can mean 'to love' (for family, romantic partners) or 'to like' (for things/activities), but it expresses a stronger, deeper feeling than 喜欢 (xǐ huan), which is the everyday word for 'to like'. Use 爱 for love and strong fondness; use 喜欢 for casual liking.
verb
to loveto liketo be fond of
Easily confused
- 受shòulook-aliketo receive, to accept (a gift, education, etc.)
- 哎āisound-alike(interjection) hey! (used to call someone's attention)
- 暖nuǎnlook-alikewarm (adjective)
- 唉àisound-alike(interjection) expresses sigh, regret, disappointment, or resignation
- 缓huǎnlook-aliketo postpone, to delay, to defer
- 矮ǎisound-alikeshort (in height)
- 挨áisound-aliketo suffer, to endure (e.g., a beating, scolding, hardship)
- 挨áisound-aliketo be next to; to be adjacent to
- 癌áisound-alikecancer
Examples
- 爱。Wǒ ài nǐ.I love you.
- 爱。Māma ài wǒ.Mom loves me.
- 爱。Tā ài chī píngguǒ.He likes to eat apples.
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