dear

From Old English 'deore', meaning 'precious, valuable, high, dear'.

ADJ (1)
[/dɪə/en-US]
beloved formalemotional / cherished emotional / valuable general
Synonyms beloved formalemotional , cherished emotional , valuable general
Antonyms cheap , unvalued

Used to express affection or a high value for someone or something. The term conveys warmth and significance in emotional relationships and can indicate that someone is cherished or important.

  • You are a very dear friend to me. — あなたは私にとってとても大切な友人です。
  • This letter is dear to my heart. — この手紙は私の心にとって大切です。
register: formal
NOUN (1)
[/dɪə/en-US]
darling informalemotional / beloved formalemotional / sweetheart informal / concept sentence untranslatable (The noun 'dear' can express affection but has no direct single-word counterpart for relationships in a broader cultural context.)
Synonyms darling informalemotional , beloved formalemotional , sweetheart informal
Antonyms enemy , foe

A term of endearment used for someone who is loved or cherished. Although it expresses affection, it lacks a direct translation in some cultures, encapsulating a deeper emotional nuance and the significance of personal relationships in English.

plural
dears
  • She called him her dear as a sign of her affection. — 彼女は彼を愛情の印として親愛なると呼びました。
  • He wrote a poem for his dear to show how much she meant to him. — 彼は彼女がどれほど大切かを示すために愛する人のために詩を書きました。
register: informal