Chinese Tattoo Guide · Verified meanings · Native-editor checked
What does 爱 (ài) mean — and is it a good tattoo?
爱 (ài) means love — and in Chinese it means deep affection, not only romance. It is widely described as the most-inked Chinese character worldwide, in part because its simplified form visibly contains 心 (heart) at its center, connecting the idea of love to the heart. Verified notes: 爱 is 10 strokes in simplified Chinese (traditional 愛 has 13); it appears in 爱心 (loving heart / charity) and 爱情 (romantic love). Scenario: it works as a solo character, inside a heart design, or paired with a name; wrist, forearm and chest are common placements. Next step: preview 爱 in calligraphy and seal styles and confirm the simplified vs traditional form you want with your artist.
Key points
- Simplified 爱 (10 strokes) contains 心 (heart) in its center.
- Traditional form 愛 (13 strokes) — decide which you want before inking.
- Pairs naturally with 永 (forever) for a two-character design.
- One of the safest 'meaning' choices because it is so widely known.
See it before you ink: browse 150+ verified characters with meanings, pinyin, stroke counts and placement notes, preview your design in 4 font styles, and get a native-editor-checked design pack for your artist.
Related questions
Is 爱 or 愛 correct for a tattoo?
Both are correct; 爱 is simplified (used in mainland China), 愛 is traditional (used in Taiwan/HK). Choose the form your artist will reproduce exactly.
What Chinese character means unconditional love?
There is no single exact word; 真爱 (zhēn'ài, true love) or 爱 with 心 concepts are commonly used.