Love and Hate Chinese Symbol Tattoo: What You Need to Know

Attention
We primarily use simplified Chinese characters. Unless specified otherwise, all texts and designs featured in our articles adhere to simplified Chinese characters.

Thinking of getting “love and hate” inked in Chinese symbols but feeling a bit confused about it?

No worries, I’ve got your back!

In this article, I’ll help you figure out the correct Chinese characters for “love and hate.” Plus, I’ve come up with some awesome tattoo designs for them.

Let’s get started!

What Is the Chinese Version of Love and Hate?

Let’s start by discussing the Chinese characters that individually represent “love” and “hate” individually.

What Is the Chinese Symbol for Love?

In Chinese, the character for “love” is “爱” (Ài).

If you’ve been following my articles, you might remember a simple rule I often mention.

  • Mostly, in English, a single word matches up with two or more Chinese characters.

For example, in this article, I explained that “honesty” in Chinese is “诚实” (Chéngshí), which is made up of two characters. Shortening it to “诚” (Chéng) or “实” (Shí) would be incorrect.

But, here’s the thing – this isn’t a strict rule all the time.

The character we’re discussing now, “爱” (Ài), is a bit special.

Most of the time, it’s used just like “love.”

Check out these examples:

  • 我爱你 (Wǒ ài nǐ): I love you.
  • 我爱读书 (Wǒ ài dúshū): I love to read.
  • 他的爱就像浩瀚的海洋 (Tā de ài jiù xiàng hàohàn dì hǎiyáng): His love is like the mighty ocean.

So, to sum it up, you can think of “爱” as having the same meaning as “love.”

What Is the Chinese Symbol for Hate?

In Chinese, the character for “hate” is “恨” (Hèn).

When used as a verb, “恨” is pretty much like “hate.”

For example:

  • 我恨你 (Wǒ hèn nǐ): I hate you.
  • 我恨读书 (Wǒ hèn dúshū): I hate to read.

But when used as a noun, we often say “仇恨” (Chóuhèn) for “hate.”

For instance:

  • 仇恨像一颗种子 (Chóuhèn xiàng yī kē zhǒngzǐ): Hate is like a seed.

If this is not what you expected, no need to worry.

Read on for more explanation.

Love and Hate in Chinese

Now, let’s talk about the best way to express “love and hate” — 爱与恨 (Ài yǔ hèn).

  • Love: 爱 (Ài)
  • And: 与 (Yǔ)
  • Hate: 恨 (Hèn)

Yeah, you caught it. Here, we didn’t use “仇恨” (Chóuhèn) for “hate.”

Quick tip:

  • Chinese is a very flexible language.
  • The Chinese language values the sense of symmetry.

As “恨” (Hèn) already conveys the meaning of hate and “爱” (Ài) is a single character, for symmetry, we go with “爱与恨” (Ài yǔ hèn).

In Chinese, chasing that visual harmony might sacrifice a bit of precision, but it won’t mess up the overall meaning.

Takeaway

If the details feel overwhelming, just remember one thing. The most fitting translation for “love and hate” is “爱与恨” (Ài yǔ hèn). Done and dusted!

Chinese Character Tattoos: Love and Hate Designs

In this part, I’ll be sharing some tattoo designs for “love,” “hate,” and the blend of “love and hate.”

But first, let’s take a moment to grasp the unique stylistic features of various script types.

Running Script: If you’re into a free-flowing vibe, this script is a great pick. The strokes connect smoothly, giving off a relaxed charm.

Cursive Script: Cursive Script is passionate like ink gracefully dancing on paper. Ideal for expressing a carefree spirit.

Slender Gold Style: This style with delicate lines adds a touch of elegance. Perfect for those who prefer simplicity with style.

Seal Script: If you are drawn to a sense of ancient history, Seal Script is an intriguing choice. Each stroke carries a mysterious vibe, like an old legend. This script is not simplified or traditional Chinese characters.

Modern Artistic Fonts: For those craving uniqueness, modern artistic fonts inject creativity and trendy elements into your tattoo.

“Love” Tattoo Designs

“Hate” Tattoo Designs

“Love and Hate” Tattoo Designs

Final Thoughts

Confused about getting “love and hate” inked in Chinese? Fear not!

Discover the correct characters for “love” and “hate” – 爱 and 恨. Stick to “爱与恨” for precision. 

Don’t miss out on unique tattoo styles like Running Script or Modern Artistic Fonts. Get inspired and ink your story today!

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Hou Ruocen

Hou Ruocen is the passionate force behind Hanzi Focus. With expertise in teaching Chinese and a profound love for culture, she ensures your ink reflects both style and substance.
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