“love” in Japanese is 愛, read ai (あい). It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 愛する (to love).
What does 愛 mean?
犬をとても愛している。
| Kanji | 愛 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | love |
| Readings | あい |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 愛する (to love) |
愛 is read ai (あい) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: