What does 愛 mean in Japanese?
愛 means love, affection, and care in Japanese. You will find it in common words such as 愛情 (affection), 恋愛 (romantic love), and 愛用 (personal favorite).
For learners, 愛 is best studied through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works across different types of words and sentences.
Reading
On’yomi: アイ (ai)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 愛 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | 愛する, いつくしむ |
| Stroke Count | 13 |
How to Understand This Kanji
愛 is broader than the English word “love.” In 愛情 (affection), it describes warm, enduring care; in 恋愛 (romantic love), it points to falling in love; and in 愛用 (habitual use), it expresses fondness for something you depend on. The on’yomi アイ is the standard reading and appears in nearly all 愛 compounds.
Common Words
- 愛（あい / ai） — love, affection
- 愛する（あいする / ai suru） — to love
- 愛情（あいじょう / aijou） — love, affection
- 恋愛（れんあい / ren’ai） — romantic love, romance
- 愛用（あいよう / aiyou） — habitual use, personal favorite
- 愛犬（あいけん / aiken） — beloved dog, one’s dog
Example Sentences
-
彼は家族への愛情がとても深い。
かれはかぞくへのあいじょうがとてもふかい。 / Kare wa kazoku e no aijou ga totemo fukai.
He has very deep affection for his family.
-
二人は恋愛の末に結婚しました。
ふたりはれんあいのすえにけっこんしました。 / Futari wa ren’ai no sue ni kekkon shimashita.
The two got married after falling in love.
-
毎日愛用しているかばんです。
まいにちあいようしているかばんです。 / Mainichi aiyou shite iru kaban desu.
This is the bag I use and love every day.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
愛 is almost always read as アイ (ai) in compounds. Unlike kanji with multiple common readings, 愛 uses アイ consistently in modern Japanese vocabulary. Start with 愛情 (aijou, affection), 恋愛 (ren’ai, romantic love), and 愛用 (aiyou, personal favorite) — these three cover the most useful everyday uses. The standalone word 愛 (あい) is also widely used to mean love directly, making it one of the most recognizable Japanese kanji for English speakers.
Summary
愛 means love, affection, and care. It is an essential kanji for expressing emotional bonds, appearing in words for romantic love, parental warmth, and deep personal fondness.