可爱
kě'ài
The English word 'adorable' is translated into Chinese as 可爱 (kě'ài).
可爱 is used to mean 'cute' or 'adorable'. It is frequently used to describe children, animals or endearing personality traits. You can say 超级可爱 to mean 'super adorable'.
Meaning: befitting of being adored (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 可爱 is composed of 可 (kě), meaning 'can' or 'able to' and 爱 (ài), meaning 'love'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 可爱 as an adjective in a simple sentence, it is common to precede it with an adverb of degree like 很 (hěn) rather than using the verb 'to be'. For example, instead of saying 'is adorable', you would say 很可爱 (very adorable).
How do you pronounce it?
kě'ài
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the phrase 可爱 can also be used in a sarcastic or critical way to describe someone who is 'too clever for their own good' or 'acting smart'.
- The character 爱 (ài) in 可爱 is written differently in Simplified Chinese than in Traditional Chinese, where the original version included the character for 'heart' (心) in the middle.
- While 可爱 means 'cute' today, in ancient Chinese texts it was often used to describe someone who was 'worthy of love' in a moral or filial sense, rather than just being physically cute.
Examples in context
- 怎么会有猫咪这么可爱的生物？How can there exist a creature as adorable as a cat?This sentence illustrates the use of 可爱 when describing a creature.Tatoeba #10042032 by slo_oth, translation #10253681 by bekindtoall
- 阿美是个可爱的女孩。Ah Mei is an adorable girl.This sentence shows how to use 可爱 to describe a person.Tatoeba #4709854 by sKy_, translation #4728073 by paper1n0
- 那只小猫真可爱。That little cat is so adorable.
- 她的衣服真可爱。Her clothes are really cute.
- 这个小兔子太萌了。This little rabbit is too adorable.
- 他的笑容很萌。His smile is very cute.
- 那个穿着小裙子的宝宝真可爱。Nàge chuānzhe xiǎo qúnzi de bǎobao zhēn kě'ài.That baby wearing the little dress is really adorable.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at photos of a puppy on a phone.
- 伟 Wei你看这只小狗，多可爱啊！Nǐ kàn zhè zhī xiǎogǒu, duō kě'ài a!Look at this puppy, how adorable!
- 梓涵 Zihan它确实很可爱，眼睛圆圆的。Tā quèshí hěn kě'ài, yǎnjīng yuán yuán de.It really is adorable, with such round eyes.
- 伟 Wei我也想养一只这么可爱的狗狗。Wǒ yě xiǎng yǎng yī zhī zhème kě'ài de gǒugǒu.I also want to raise such an adorable dog.
- 梓涵 Zihan那你要多准备一些零食。Nà nǐ yào duō zhǔnbèi yīxiē língshí.Then you'll need to prepare plenty of snacks.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
