How to write 爱 (ài, “to love”)
爱 (ài), an HSK 1 character, means “to love”, “affection” and “to be inclined”. The traditional form is 愛, 13 strokes instead of 10. On its own it is an HSK 1 word; it also forms 爱好 (“to like”), 可爱 (“adorable”) and 喜爱 (“to like”). Japanese keeps the traditional 愛, read ai (“love”).
- Pinyin
- ài
- Strokes
- 10
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 爫 (“claw”)
- Traditional
- 愛
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
As a top-bottom character it splits into 爫冖, strokes 1–6; 友 (“friend”), strokes 7–10, written the top first.
- topleftwards
- top leftdown and right
- Dottopa dot
- top rightdown and right → down and left
- top leftdownwards
- leftrightwards → down and left
- leftrightwards
- centerdown and left
- centerrightwards → down and left → leftwards
- bottomdown and right
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 爱 · 10 strokes
- Traditional
- 愛 · 13 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| ài fourth tone | to love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen) | 愛 | 爱好 可爱 喜爱 爱人 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 1 word
- Words with it
- 142 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 爱
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 爱 愛 | ài | to love; to be fond of HSK 1 |
| 爱好 愛好 | àihào | to like; to be fond of HSK 2 |
| 可爱 可愛 | kě’ài | adorable; cute HSK 3 |
| 喜爱 喜愛 | xǐ’ài | to like; to love HSK 3 |
| 爱人 愛人 | àiren | spouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC) HSK 3 |
| 爱情 愛情 | àiqíng | romance; love (romantic) HSK 4 |
| 爱心 愛心 | àixīn | compassion; kindness HSK 4 |
| 热爱 熱愛 | rè’ài | to love ardently; to adore HSK 5 |
| 爱护 愛護 | àihù | to cherish; to treasure HSK 5 |
| 亲爱 親愛 | qīn’ài | dear; beloved HSK 5 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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Keep going
HSK 1, in list order: