Meaning of 亲爱
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- dear
- beloved
- darling
How to use 亲爱
亲爱 is almost always used with 的 before a name or noun, as a warm form of address in letters, speeches, and between partners or family. Example: 亲爱的妈妈，生日快乐。(Qīn'ài de māma, shēngrì kuàilè.) Dear Mom, happy birthday.
亲 (qīn) means close or related by blood, as in 父亲 (fùqīn) father and 母亲 (mǔqīn) mother, and 爱 (ài) means love. Someone you are close to and love is your 亲爱的, your dear one.
Common mistake: Learners often say 亲爱 alone as a noun. To call someone "darling" you need 亲爱的 (qīn'ài de). Also keep the first tone on 亲 (qīn) and do not confuse it with 新 (xīn, new), which looks a little similar on the left side.
亲爱 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
亲 qīn · parent · 9 strokes
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爱 ài · to love · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 亲爱.
| 爱好 | àihào | to like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on; interest; hobby |
| 可爱 | kě'ài | adorable; cute |
| 爱情 | àiqíng | romance; love (romantic) |
| 爱人 | àiren | spouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC) |
| 父亲 | fùqīn | father; also pr. [fu4 qin5] |
| 母亲 | mǔqīn | mother |
| 亲自 | qīnzì | personally; in person |
| 亲人 | qīnrén | one's close relatives |
| 热爱 | rè'ài | to love ardently; to adore |
| 亲切 | qīnqiè | amiable; cordial |
| 爱心 | àixīn | compassion; kindness |
| 亲密 | qīnmì | intimate; close |
Questions about 亲爱
What does 亲爱 mean?
亲爱 (qīn'ài) means "dear; beloved" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 亲爱?
亲爱 is made of 2 characters: 亲 (9 strokes), 爱 (10 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 亲爱 an HSK word?
Yes. 亲爱 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 亲爱 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 亲爱 is written 親愛.
Can I use 亲爱的 with friends or coworkers?
Between close friends it can sound affectionate or playful, but with coworkers or strangers it may feel too intimate. In formal letters 亲爱的 plus a name is fine, much like "Dear" in English.
What does 亲 mean when online sellers say it to customers?
Online shop staff often shorten 亲爱的 to just 亲 (qīn) as a friendly way to address buyers, like "dear". It is casual internet style and not used in formal writing.