怜爱 (lián ài) — to love tenderly, to cherish with affection (toward someone vulnerable or endearing)
Definition
怜 (lián) adds a layer of pity or tenderness to 爱, so 怜爱 is love felt toward someone vulnerable, small, or helpless — a parent for a child, or a person for an injured animal. Stronger emotional coloring than plain 爱.
verb
to love tenderlyto cherish with affection (toward someone vulnerable or endearing)
Examples
- ，怜爱。Tā kàn zhe shú shuì de hái zi, xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le lián ài.She looked at the sleeping child, her heart full of tender love.
- ，怜爱。Nà zhī xiǎo māo hěn kě ài, ràng rén rěn bú zhù lián ài.That kitten was so cute it made people can't help but feel tender affection.
- ，怜爱。Tā wēn róu dì fǔ mō tā de tóu fa, yǎn shén lǐ mǎn shì lián ài.He gently stroked her hair, his eyes full of tender love.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.