敬愛|けいあいkeiai[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbrespect and affection; love and respect
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 敬愛する(けいあいする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 敬愛します(けいあいします) |
| Negative (nai) | 敬愛しない(けいあいしない) |
| polite (masen) | 敬愛しません(けいあいしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 敬愛せず・敬愛せぬ(けいあいせず・けいあいせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 敬愛した(けいあいした) |
| polite (mashita) | 敬愛しました(けいあいしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 敬愛しなかった(けいあいしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 敬愛しませんでした(けいあいしませんでした) |
| Te form | 敬愛して(けいあいして) |
| Potential | 敬愛できる(けいあいできる) |
| Passive | 敬愛される(けいあいされる) |
| Causative | 敬愛させる(けいあいさせる) |
| Causative passive | 敬愛させられる(けいあいさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 敬愛すれば(けいあいすれば) |
| tara | 敬愛したら(けいあいしたら) |
| Volitional | 敬愛しよう(けいあいしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 敬愛しましょう(けいあいしましょう) |
| Imperative | 敬愛しろ(けいあいしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym尊敬そんけいNeutralNeutral; the everyday word for respect. It does not necessarily include the affection of 「敬愛」.
- Synonym景仰けいこうWrittenWritten and rare; stresses looking up to someone in admiration. Unlike 「敬愛」, it carries no affection.
- Synonym欽慕きんぼWrittenWritten and rare; synonymous with 「敬慕」, admiration blended with fond yearning.
- Synonym欽仰きんぎょうFormalFormal, archaic and rare; deep admiration and reverence for a person of virtue.
- Related畏敬いけいWrittenWritten; awe-filled reverence for something sublime — respect mixed with fear, without the affection of 「敬愛」.
- Related尊ぶとうとぶNeutralNeutral; to prize or esteem, stressing the value you place on someone or something. Affection is not necessarily implied.
- Related敬ううやまうNeutralNeutral verb; to treat elders or deities with courtesy and respect. Affection is not necessarily implied.
- Related尊むとうとむWrittenLiterary form of 「尊ぶ」; rare today — say 「尊ぶ」 instead. It means to prize and respect.
- Related仰望ぎょうぼうWrittenWritten and rare; literally to look upward, hence to admire someone from below. It implies no affection.
- Related崇めるあがめるWrittenWritten; to revere or exalt, typically gods, buddhas or people. More overtly worshipful than 「敬愛」.
- Related崇敬すうけいWrittenWritten and rare; veneration, mostly of deities or great figures. It lacks the closeness of 「敬愛」.
- Related尊信そんしんWrittenWritten and rare; to revere and trust, with a tinge of faith. No affection is implied.
- Related尊崇そんすうWrittenWritten and rare; respectful veneration, typically of someone of very high standing.
- Related敬するけいするWrittenWritten and rare as a verb meaning to respect; in everyday use say 「敬う」.
- Related推尊すいそんWrittenWritten and rare; to esteem someone and hold them up as worthy of honor.
- Antonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralAntonym: contempt, looking down on someone — the opposite of the respect and affection of 「敬愛」.
- Antonym憎悪ぞうおNeutralAntonym: hatred and loathing; strong in tone, directly opposed to the affectionate respect of 「敬愛」.
For everyday respect, use 「尊敬」 or 「敬う」. 「敬愛」 combines respect with affection and is common in letters and eulogies, as in 「敬愛する先生」. For reverence mixed with awe, use 「畏敬」. Most of the rest are written or archaic: 「崇める」 and 「崇敬」 lean toward worship, 「尊ぶ」 stresses value, while 「軽蔑」 and 「憎悪」 are antonyms.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


