japanese kanji for love

What Is Japanese Kanji For Love? | How To Write Love In Japanese

Dec 04, 2024Shopify API

Wanna know what is Japanese kanji for love? Here are different kanji for love yo should know about!

In the fascinating world of Japanese calligraphy and culture, the art of kanji holds a special place. 

Kanji, the adopted logographic characters from China, is an essential part of the Japanese writing system. 

In this article, we delve into the captivating Japanese kanji for love, unraveling their origins, forms, and the deep cultural significance they hold.

Japanese Kanji For Love

愛 (Ai)

One of the most prominent kanji characters associated with love is 愛, pronounced as "ai." This character embodies the concept of deep affection, compassion, and romantic love. 

It is visually composed of three parts, depicting a heart (心) placed within an enclosure, symbolizing protection.

愛 represents the profound emotional bond between individuals, transcending romantic love and encompassing familial love, friendship, and empathy.

恋 (Koi)

Another powerful kanji character for love is 恋, pronounced as "koi." Unlike 愛, which encompasses a broader sense of love, 恋 specifically represents passionate or romantic love. 

This character consists of two elements: 心, meaning heart, and 乃, an archaic character that implies a connection or attachment. 

Together, they depict the intense emotions and yearning associated with romantic love, often used to describe the feeling of being in love or infatuation.

心愛 (Kokoro Ai)

Combining the kanji characters 心 (kokoro), meaning heart, and 愛 (ai), we have 心愛 (kokoro ai). This composite kanji symbolizes a deep and cherished love that resonates from the heart. 

It reflects the profound emotional connection and affection one feels towards another person.

心愛 portrays a love that is not only passionate but also deeply personal and meaningful, encompassing the core of one's being.

愛情 (Aijō)

The kanji characters 愛情 (aijō) combine 愛 (ai) and 情 (jō) to create a word that encapsulates the concept of love and affection.

While 愛 alone represents love, 情 signifies emotions, feelings, or sentiment.

Together, they form the idea of love as a profound emotion, highlighting the tenderness, care, and warmth experienced in personal relationships.

愛しい (Itoshii)

In the realm of Japanese kanji for love, we encounter 愛しい (itoshii). This character combines the kanji 愛 (ai), meaning love, and the suffix しい (shii), which indicates a sense of endearment or affection. 

愛しい captures the essence of tender and cherished love, often used to express affection and adoration for someone or something.

It conveys a deep emotional attachment and an overwhelming feeling of warmth and fondness.

愛される (Aisareru)

Expanding the exploration of love in Japanese kanji, we encounter 愛される (aisareru). This phrase combines the kanji 愛 (ai), signifying love, and the verb される (sareru), indicating the passive form of a verb. 

Together, they convey the state of being loved or cherished by someone else. 愛される encompasses the feeling of being valued and appreciated, reflecting the reciprocity and mutual affection in relationships.

慈愛 (Jiai)

The kanji characters 慈愛 (jiai) embody the concept of compassion and benevolent love. 慈 (ji) represents kindness, mercy, or benevolence, while 愛 (ai) signifies love. 

This combination signifies a compassionate and caring love that extends beyond personal relationships and encompasses empathy, altruism, and a desire to help and support others. 

慈愛 represents the selfless and nurturing aspect of love, emphasizing the importance of compassion in human connections.

What is the Japanese kanji for first love?

The Japanese kanji for first love is 初恋 (hatsukoi). It is made up of the kanji 初 (hatsu), meaning "first", and 恋 (koi), meaning "love". The literal translation of hatsukoi is "first love", but it is often used to refer to the first person someone loves romantically.

The kanji for love, 恋 (koi), can also be used on its own to mean "love" in general. However, when used in the context of first love, the kanji 初 (hatsu) is added to give the word a more specific meaning.

Here are some examples of how to use the word hatsukoi in a sentence:

  • 私の初恋は小学校の同級生でした。 (Watashi no hatsukoi wa shogakkou no doukyuusei deshita.) - My first love was my classmate in elementary school.
  • 初恋はいつも特別なものです。 (Hatsukoi wa itsumo tokubetsu na mono desu.) - First love is always special.
  • 初恋の思い出は一生忘れません。 (Hatsukoi no omoide wa issho wasuremasen.) - I will never forget the memories of my first love.

What is deep love in Japanese?

There are a few ways to say "deep love" in Japanese. One way is to use the word 深い愛 (fukai ai), which literally means "deep love". 

Another way is to use the word 厚い愛 (aoi ai), which literally means "thick love". Both of these words can be used to express a deep and abiding love for someone.

Here are some examples of how to use these words in a sentence:

  • 彼は彼女に深い愛を注いでいます。 (Kare wa kanojo ni fukai ai o tsuite imasu.) - He is pouring his deep love into her.
  • 彼女の厚い愛は彼を支えています。 (Kanojo no aoi ai wa kare o sasaete imasu.) - Her thick love is supporting him.
  • 私たちは深い愛で結ばれています。 (Watashitachi wa fukai ai de musuburete imasu.) - We are bound by deep love.

Another way to say "deep love" in Japanese is to use the phrase 永遠の愛 (eien no ai), which literally means "eternal love". This phrase is often used to express a love that is meant to last forever.

Here is an example of how to use this phrase in a sentence:

  • 私たちは永遠の愛を誓いました。 (Watashitachi wa eien no ai o chikai mashiimashita.) - We vowed eternal love to each other.

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