かわいい・可愛いkawaii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivecute; adorable; charming; lovely; pretty
   この世よにかわいい子こはただ一人ひとり、母親ははおやにとってはそれはわが子こ。↗

   There's only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
2. i-adjectivedear; precious; darling; pet
   私にとって子供こどもたちは目めの中なかに入いれてもいたくないほどかわいいのです。↗

   My children are very precious to me.
3. i-adjectiveinnocent; childlike; childish; lovable
4. i-adjectivedainty; little; tiny
5. i-adjectiveprecious to oneself; dear (to one)usu. as 自分の首が～, etc.

• Synonym可愛らしいかわいらしいNeutralDescribes how something looks — endearing and appealing in appearance. A touch more refined than 「可愛い」, which is the most common choice in speech.
• Synonym愛らしいあいらしいNeutralInnocent, endearing charm that wins people over, as in 「愛らしい笑顔」. Carries a slightly literary flavor.
• Synonym愛しいいとしいWrittenFeeling deep affection and longing for someone, as in 「愛しい人」. About the heart, not looks; written style.
• Synonym可憐かれんWrittenTouchingly delicate and lovable, stirring a wish to protect; mostly for young girls and small flowers. Written style.
• Synonym愛くるしいあいくるしいNeutralInnocent, winning cuteness, mostly for the expressions and movements of babies and small animals.
• SynonymめんこいCasualA Tohoku dialect equivalent of 「可愛い」; colloquial, with a warm, folksy feel.
• Synonym愛おしいいとおしいWrittenCherishing from the bottom of one's heart, hardly wanting to let go; expresses deep, tender affection. Written style.
• SynonymいたいけWrittenLiterary word for young, innocent charm that invites tenderness; often seen as 「いたいけな子ども」.
• Related好ましいこのましいWrittenMeans appealing or desirable — an evaluation of something as welcome or expected, not an expression of cuteness. Written, formal prose.
• Antonym醜いみにくいNeutralThe opposite of 「可愛い」: ugly in appearance, and by extension shameful or disgraceful in conduct.

「可愛い」 is the everyday spoken default. For looks, use 「可愛らしい」 or 「愛らしい」; for someone cherished in the heart, 「愛しい」 or 「愛おしい」; for delicate, pitiable charm, 「可憐」. 「愛くるしい」 fits babies and small animals, 「幼気」 is literary for young children, めんこい is Tohoku dialect, and 好ましい is not about cuteness; 醜い is the antonym.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 小ちいさいさま、弱よわいさまのために心こころを引ひきつける。
2. 愛あいらしく魅力みりょくがある。
3. 殊勝しゅしょうで好感こうかんが持もてる。
4. 子供こどもっぽい。幼稚ようちだ。
5. 小ちいさい。大たいしたことはない。小粒こつぶだ。