可爱
kě'ài
In Chinese, the phrase for "something is cute" is 可爱 (kě'ài).
There are several informal ways to express different degrees of cuteness. You can use 可爱到爆 to express extreme adorableness, or the colloquial 可爱死了 to mean "cute to death." If you want to describe someone or something as sweet, charming or silly, you can use 萌萌哒. To express being overwhelmed or smitten by how adorable something is, you can say 萌翻了. There is also a playful expression, 萌到没朋友, which literally translates to "too cute for friends," implying that nothing else can compare.
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". Literally, it means "can be loved."
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the adjective 可爱 as a predicate in a sentence, it is common to place the adverb 很 (hěn), meaning "very", before it instead of using a verb like "is/am/are". For example, instead of saying "is cute," you would say 很可爱 (very cute).
How do you pronounce it?
kě'ài
Did you know?
- The word 萌 (méng) used in 萌萌哒 originally refers to a plant budding or sprouting. It was adopted into modern Chinese slang via Japanese 'moe' culture to describe a specific kind of heart-melting cuteness.
- The character 爱 (ài) in 可爱 has two common versions: the traditional version with a 'heart' component at the bottom and a simplified version that removes it.
- When describing a baby as 可爱, some speakers may use the word 乖 (guāi), which literally means 'obedient' but functions as a way to call a child 'cute' or 'good'.
Examples in context
- 你的新发型萌萌哒！(Nǐ de xīn fǎxíng méng méng dā!)Your new hairstyle is super cute!
- 这只小熊可爱到爆！(Zhè zhī xiǎo xióng kě'ài dào bào!)This little bear is cute to the extreme!
- 这个玩具萌翻了！(Zhè ge wánjù méng fān le!)This toy is overwhelmingly cute!
- 那个小猫很可爱。Nàge xiǎomāo hěn kě'ài.That little kitten is very cute.
- 你的宝宝真可爱！Nǐ de bǎobao zhēn kě'ài!Your baby is so cute!
- 这件衣服的图案很可爱。Zhè jiàn yīfu de tú'àn hěn kě'ài.The pattern on this clothing is cute.
Example conversation
Wei and Xiaowen are looking at photos of a puppy on a phone.
- 伟 Wei这只小狗真可爱。Zhè zhī xiǎogǒu zhēn kě'ài.This puppy is really cute.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen对，它的眼睛很大。Duì, tā de yǎnjīng hěn dà.Yes, its eyes are very big.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，你想养一只吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ xiǎng yǎng yì zhī ma?Xiaowen, do you want to raise one?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我也觉得它很可爱。Wǒ yě juéde tā hěn kě'ài.I also think it's cute.
