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亲爱的 (qīn ài de) — dear, beloved (term of endearment when addressing someone directly); dear (polite salutation in letters or cards)

Definition

Used as a term of endearment to address someone directly (亲爱的, …) or as a polite salutation opening a letter or card (亲爱的妈妈, …). It is a fixed phrase, not a plain adjective.

idiom
dearbeloved (term of endearment when addressing someone directly)dear (polite salutation in letters or cards)

Examples

  • 亲爱的，！
    qīn ài de, Nǐ huí lái le!
    Dear, you're back!
  • 亲爱的，？
    qīn ài de Mā ma, nín zuì jìn shēn tǐ hǎo ma?
    Dear Mom, how have you been recently?
  • ，亲爱的。
    Zhè shì wǒ tè yì wèi nǐ zhǔn bèi de, qīn ài de.
    I prepared this especially for you, dear.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn親qīn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 愛; 爱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
旡
旡jì愛ài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 愛, an older shape paired 心 (heart) with 旡 as its sound part; later a foot-like 夊 was added below. The simplified 爱 is a later variant that replaces the lower part with 友.

Open 爱 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →
Appears in
Romance & Marriage5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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