亲爱的
qin'ai de
The English word 'dear' is translated into Chinese as 亲爱的 (qin'ai de).
亲爱的 is used to mean 'loved' or 'lovable'. When used as a standalone term of endearment, similar to 'Honey' or 'Darling' in English, it is often used by couples or between close friends.
Meaning: loved, lovable (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 亲爱的 is composed of 亲 (close/intimate), 爱 (love) and 的, which is a particle that turns the preceding words into an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
qin'ai de
Did you know?
- The character 爱 (ài) in 亲爱的 is written differently in Traditional Chinese as 愛, which includes the character for 'heart' 心 in the middle.
- In certain mainland Chinese business contexts, some people use 亲 (qīn) as a shorthand version of 亲爱的 to address customers, similar to how an English speaker might say 'hey dear' in a shop.
- The character 亲 (qīn) literally relates to 'parents' or 'relatives', so the word 'dear' is etymologically tied to the concept of blood kinship.
Examples in context
- 亲爱的，你把我迷住了。You captivated me, dear.This sentence shows how to use 亲爱的 as a term of endearment for a partner.Tatoeba #8794842 by slo_oth, translation #698757 by papabear
- 亲爱的，给客人端点咖啡吧。Please serve the guests some coffee, dear.This sentence shows how 亲爱的 can be used when addressing a loved one in a request.Tatoeba #4265178 by notabene, translation #4770642 by garborg
- 我亲爱的妈妈My dear mother.This sentence shows how to use 亲爱的 before a familial title.Tatoeba #2201215 by abidaomak, translation #2202414 by FeuDRenais2
- 尊敬的客户Dear customer
- 敬爱的老师Dear teacher
- 亲，你在干什么呢？Hey, what are you doing?
- 亲爱的小明Dear Xiao Ming
Example conversation
A couple is talking on the phone at home.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen亲爱的，你什么时候回家？Qīn'ài de, nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā?Dear, when are you coming home?
- 俊杰 Junjie我快到了，亲爱的。Wǒ kuài dào le, qīn'ài de.I'm almost there, dear.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen别太累了。Bié tài lèi le.Don't be too tired.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，爱你。Hǎo de, ài nǐ.Okay, love you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
