最愛
saiai[sa̠ia̠i]
The English word "beloved" is translated into Japanese as 最愛 (saiai).
最愛 is used to describe someone who is much loved. It carries a heavy, poetic or dramatic weight and is frequently used when discussing deep, profound affection or the context of grief.
Meaning: much loved (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 最, meaning "most" and 愛, meaning "love".
Which one should you use?
While 最愛 means "beloved", it is much more intense and formal than common ways to say "favorite" or "dear", such as 大好きな.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use 最愛 as an adjective to modify a noun, you add the particle の to form 最愛の.
How do you pronounce it?
saiai
When do people say it?
While 最愛 expresses a profound level of love, if you want to say "I love you" directly, the phrase Ai shiteru is used as a direct expression of love.
Did you know?
- The character 愛 used in 最愛 is a pictograph that originally depicted a person with a heart, symbolizing a feeling of being choked or constricted by emotion.
- While English speakers use 'beloved' in wedding vows, Japanese couples more often use softer terms because 最愛 can feel overly theatrical for a real-life ceremony.
- In Japanese pop culture, 最愛 is often used as a title for tragedies or dramas to signal a love that is eternal but perhaps impossible or lost.
Examples in context
- 彼は最愛の息子をなくした。He lost his beloved son.This sentence shows the use of 最愛 when referring to a son.Tatoeba #95755 by KK_kaku_, translation #293459 by Luornu
- 彼女は最愛のペットを失った。Kanojo wa saiai no petto o ushinatta.She lost her beloved pet.
- 最愛の妻に花を贈る。Saiai no tsuma ni hana o okuru.I give flowers to my beloved wife.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are looking at an old wedding photo.
- 陽太 Yotaこの写真は、僕の最愛の祖母と一緒に撮ったものです。Kono shashin wa, boku no saiai no sobo to issho ni totta mono desu.This photo was taken with my beloved grandmother.
- 美咲 Misakiとても優しそうな方ですね。Totemo yasashisouna kata desu ne.She looks like a very kind person.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、本当に温かい人でした。Hai, hontō ni atatakai hito deshita.Yes, she was a truly warm person.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんにとって大切な思い出ですね。Yōta-san ni totte taisetsu na omoide desu ne.That is a precious memory for you, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beloved” translations and entries 最愛, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
