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可爱 (kě ài) — cute, adorable, lovely

Definition

General word for 'cute / adorable / lovely' — people, animals, or things like clothes. 亲爱 is for people you love (dear); 心爱 is for a prized possession.

adjective
cuteadorablelovely

Examples

  • 可爱！
    Zhè zhī xiǎo gǒu de yàng zi zhēn kě ài!
    This puppy's appearance is so cute!
  • 可爱，。
    Nà ge xiǎo gū niang fēi cháng kě ài, dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā.
    That little girl is very cute; everyone likes her.
  • 可爱。
    Tā chuān de nà tiáo qún zi hěn kě ài.
    The dress she is wearing is very cute.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

可kěworthy of
爱àilove

可 (worthy of) and 爱 (love) give the sense of lovable.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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 →
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