Meaning
爱惜 means to cherish or treasure something by treating it with care and avoiding waste or damage. It emphasizes both emotional attachment and practical protection. This word is commonly used when talking about caring for possessions, resources, time, or even one's own health and reputation.
Usage
爱惜 is used in both written and spoken Mandarin with a slightly formal tone. It often appears with objects like belongings, natural resources, opportunities, or one's body. Common patterns include 爱惜 + noun (to cherish/take care of something) or 不爱惜 (to not cherish, to be careless with). It conveys a sense of responsibility and mindfulness.
Examples
- 01我们应该爱惜粮食，不要浪费。, .We should cherish food and not waste it.
- 02他从来不爱惜自己的身体，经常熬夜。, .He never takes care of his health and often stays up late.
Characters
Common collocations
- 爱惜身体to take care of one's health
- 爱惜时间to value one's time
- 爱惜粮食to not waste food
- 不爱惜to not cherish, to be careless with
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 爱 (love) with 惜 (to treasure/pity), literally meaning to love and treasure something. The character 惜 originally conveyed a sense of regret or reluctance to part with something valuable.