愛|あいai[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. noun, noun (suffix)love; affection; care
   愛あいの動うごきは不可解ふかかい。↗

   Love moves in mysterious ways.
2. noun, Buddhismattachment; craving; desire
3. noun, Christianityagape
4. nounIreland

• SynonymラブCasualLoanword, mostly for romantic love and often in compounds like 「ラブソング」 or 「ラブレター」; casual in tone. In tennis and badminton it also means zero.
• Synonym愛情あいじょうNeutralA concrete feeling of love for a person or thing, as in 「愛情を注ぐ」. 「愛」 is more abstract and also covers universal and religious love.
• Synonym愛着あいちゃくNeutralAttachment to people or things you are used to, mostly things, as in 「愛着がわく」. It does not cover romantic love.
• Synonym情愛じょうあいWrittenWritten word for deep bonds between people, such as family or marital affection. In everyday speech use 「愛情」.
• Synonym慈愛じあいWrittenThe kind, doting love of a parent for a child; typically flows from elder to younger. 「愛」 is not restricted by direction.
• Synonym好意こういNeutralGoodwill or fondness for someone, as in 「好意を寄せる」; milder than 「愛」, and it can also mean simple kindness.
• Synonym好きすきNeutralThe everyday word for liking or loving, with the widest use. 「愛」 is more solemn and deep; in speech 「愛してる」 is rarely said outright.
• Synonym慈しみいつくしみWrittenTender, cherishing affection for a child, partner or even nature. 「愛」 is broader, covering attachment and desire as well.
• Synonym愛念あいねんWrittenRare written word for deep love held in the heart. In daily life say 「愛情」 or 「思い」.
• Synonym愛心あいしんWrittenRare written word for a heart that loves all things; everyday Japanese does not use it this way — say 「思いやり」 instead.
• Synonym仁愛じんあいWrittenWritten word with a Confucian flavor for benevolent care of others; rare in daily use. 「愛」 has a wider range.
• Related好きずきNeutralThe everyday word for liking or loving, with the widest use. 「愛」 is more solemn and deep; in speech 「愛してる」 is rarely said outright.
• Related傾慕けいぼWrittenWritten word for wholehearted, adoring yearning for someone, with a note of reverence. 「愛」 need not imply admiration.
• Related暖かみあたたかみNeutralThe warmth or human kindness a person gives off, as in 「暖かみのある人柄」 — an impression, not the emotion itself that 「愛」 is.
• Related暖かさあたたかさNeutralMostly physical warmth, extended to warmth of feeling; it overlaps with 「愛」 only in that sense and stresses degree more than 「暖かみ」.
• Antonym憎しみにくしみNeutralHatred — the most common word for it, and the natural opposite of 「愛」 in the love-hate pairing.
• Antonym嫌悪けんおWrittenDisgust or aversion toward people, things or ideas, as in 「自己嫌悪」; it stands opposite to the fondness of 「愛」.
• Antonym憎悪ぞうおWrittenStronger hatred than 「憎しみ」, with a strong written flavor; the counterpart of 「愛」.

For love in general use 「愛」 or 「愛情」; for everyday liking say 「好き」. Use 「愛着」 for attachment to familiar things, 「慈愛」 for an elder's affection, and 「ラブ」 in romantic compounds. 「慈しみ」「情愛」「仁愛」「傾慕」「愛念」「愛心」 are written or rare; for milder goodwill or kindness pick 「好意」, and for warmth of feeling 「暖かみ」 or 「暖かさ」. The opposites are 「憎しみ」 (common) and the written 「嫌悪」 and 「憎悪」.

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

1. あるものに対たいして抱いだく、慈いつくしみ同化どうかしたいと思おもう自然しぜん発生はっせい的てきな気持きもち及およびそのような気持きもちが生しょうじること。愛情あいじょう。
2. 宗教しゅうきょう上じょうの語ご。神かみが、我われら人類じんるいを保護ほごしいつくしむ性質せいしつ。キリスト教きりすときょうの概念がいねんアガペーに当あてられた訳わけ。
3. アイルランドを意味いみする語ごを作つくる。