溺爱

溺愛

nì'ài

verb #22,840

Meanings

父母过度溺爱孩子，会害了他们。

Fùmǔ guòdù nì'ài háizi, huì hài le tāmen.

Parents who excessively spoil their children will end up harming them.

爷爷奶奶总是溺爱孙子，什么都依着他。

Yéye nǎinai zǒngshì nì'ài sūnzi, shénme dōu yī zhe tā.

The grandparents always dote on their grandson, giving in to his every wish.

memory

溺 means 'to drown/submerge' — 溺爱 is love so overwhelming it drowns the recipient. The same 溺 appears in 溺水 (to drown).

usage

溺爱 always has a negative connotation — it is love that goes too far and becomes harmful. Unlike 疼爱 (to love dearly), which is neutral or positive.

溺 nì

爱 ài