亲爱 qīn’ài dear
dear; beloved; darling
How to remember 亲爱: 亲 kin + 爱 love = dear.
Characters
How it is used
- Almost always as 亲爱的 (qīn'ài de), 'dear/beloved' - 亲爱的朋友们 (qīn'ài de péngyoumen) dear friends.
- Used to open letters and speeches, and between couples/family; not casual between mere acquaintances the way English 'dear' can be.
- Rarely stands alone as a predicate; think of it as a fixed affectionate modifier.
Example sentences
- 我父亲爱世上的每一个人。 Wǒ fùqīn ài shìshàng de měi yígè rén.My father loves everyone in the world.