Dong Chinese dictionary

ài

love

Originally a phonosemantic compound, with 旡 representing the sound and 心 (heart) representing the meaning. Later the 夂 component was added.

Components

旡 Sound component

jì

choke on something eaten

愛 and 旡 don't sound similar in modern Mandarin due to historical phonetic changes. They were more similar in older Chinese.

Due to historical stylistic changes, this component is less similar to 旡 than it was in ancient scripts.

心 Meaning component

xīn

heart

夂 Unknown component

zhǐ

夂 is a component form of 止. The purpose of this component is unclear.

Evolution

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

ài

love, be fond of, like; to love; to be fond of; to like; affection; to be inclined (to do sth); to tend to (happen)

Most common words with 愛

Component uses

Sound component in 4 characters (1 verified)

Sources