愛らしい|あいらしいairashii[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. i-adjectivepretty; charming; lovely; adorable
    その女の子おんなのこは小ちいさな愛あいらしい口元くちもとをしている。↗
    The girl has a sweet, small mouth.
Conjugation
Plain form愛らしい(あいらしい)
Polite (desu)愛らしいです(あいらしいです)
Negative (kunai)愛らしくない(あいらしくない)
polite (ku arimasen)愛らしくありません(あいらしくありません)
Past (katta)愛らしかった(あいらしかった)
Past negative (kunakatta)愛らしくなかった(あいらしくなかった)
Te form (kute)愛らしくて(あいらしくて)
Adverbial (ku)愛らしく(あいらしく)
Conditional (kereba)愛らしければ(あいらしければ)
kattara愛らしかったら(あいらしかったら)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymかわいいNeutralThe everyday all-purpose word for 'cute', covering people, things and actions alike; 「愛らしい」 leans written and describes an endearing, lovable look.
  • Synonym可愛らしいかわいらしいNeutralMostly for the looks of children and small animals; close in meaning to 「愛らしい」 and interchangeable with it, but with a more colloquial feel.
  • Synonym愛しいいとしいNeutralMeans beautiful, stressing beauty of appearance or spirit rather than cuteness; 「愛らしい」 stresses being endearing and lovable.
  • Synonym可憐かれんWrittenWritten/formal prose: a delicate, touchingly lovely charm that makes you want to protect it, said mostly of young girls and flowers; can also imply pitifulness.
  • Synonym愛くるしいあいくるしいNeutralInnocent, endearing charm; said mostly of babies' and children's smiling faces and looks.
  • Related素敵すてきNeutralPraises the overall impression of a person, thing or atmosphere as lovely or wonderful; not specifically about being cute.
  • Related愛おしいいとおしいNeutralExpresses the speaker's deep affection, a tender urge to cherish; 「愛らしい」 focuses on the object itself being adorable.
  • RelatedめんこいCasualA colloquial Tohoku dialect word meaning the same as 「かわいい」, with a folksy warmth; use 「かわいい」 in ordinary situations.
  • Antonym憎らしいにくらしいNeutralHateful or detestable, the opposite of 「愛らしい」's endearing quality; can also be used ironically to mean adorable.
  • Antonym醜いみにくいNeutralUgly in looks, or disgraceful in behavior; the opposite of 「愛らしい」's adorable appearance.
  • AntonymいやらしいNeutralUnpleasant or nasty, also lewd; the opposite of 「愛らしい」's endearing quality.

For everyday 'cute', say 「かわいい」. 「愛らしい」 is the written choice for an endearing, lovable look, as in 「愛らしい笑顔」. For innocent babyish charm use 「愛くるしい」, for delicate, touching charm 「可憐」; 「めんこい」 is Tohoku dialect.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. かわいらしい。いとおしい。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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