溺爱

溺愛

nì'ài

verb #22,840

Meanings

HSK 5

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.

HSK 7-9

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