愛しい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 愛しい | 愛しくない |
| Polite | 愛しいです | 愛しくないですalso 愛しくありません |
| Past polite | 愛しかったです | 愛しくなかったですalso 愛しくありませんでした |
| Past | 愛しかった | 愛しくなかった |
| Te-form | 愛しくて | 愛しくなくて |
| Adverbial | 愛しく | |
| Conditional | 愛しければ | 愛しくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 愛しかったら | 愛しくなかったら |
Expresses deep affection and endearment, often for someone close to one's heart. Can sound slightly literary or emotional.
I thought of my dear family back in my hometown.
Seeing her lovely smile warms my heart.
Rare, archaic use. Expresses a feeling of tender pity or compassion, often mixed with affection. Modern Japanese usually uses かわいそう or 哀れ for pure pity.
In classical literature, words translated as 'dear' can sometimes carry a nuance of pity.
He wrote a letter to his beloved wife.
I find my newborn daughter unbearably dear.
My affection for him, who is far away, only keeps growing.
treat with love; cherish; dote on