Love

===Chinese and other Sinic===
[[File:Love-zh.svg|thumb|left|upright|{{lang|zh|愛}} (Mandarin: {{transliteration|cmn|ài}}), the traditional [[Chinese character]] for love, contains a [[heart]] ({{lang|zh|心}}) in the middle.]]

Two philosophical underpinnings of love exist in the Chinese tradition, one from [[Confucianism]] which emphasized actions and duty while the other came from [[Mohism]] which championed a universal love. A core concept to Confucianism is {{lang|zh|{{linktext|仁}}}} ({{transliteration|zh|[[Ren (Confucianism)|Ren]]}}, "benevolent love"), which focuses on duty, action, and attitude in a relationship rather than love itself. In Confucianism, one displays benevolent love by performing actions such as [[filial piety]] from children, kindness from parents, loyalty to the king and so forth.

The concept of {{lang|zh|愛}} (Mandarin: {{transliteration|cmn|ài}}) was developed by the Chinese philosopher [[Mozi]] in {{BCE|the 4th century}} in reaction to Confucianism's benevolent love. Mozi tried to replace what he considered to be the long-entrenched Chinese over-attachment to family and clan structures with the concept of "universal love" ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|兼愛}}}}, {{transliteration|zh|jiān'ài}}). In this, he argued directly against Confucians who believed that it was natural and correct for people to care about different people in different degrees. Mozi, by contrast, believed people in principle should care for all people equally. Mohism stressed that rather than adopting different attitudes towards different people, love should be unconditional and offered to everyone without regard to reciprocation; not just to friends, family, and other Confucian relations. Later in [[Chinese Buddhism]], the term {{transliteration|zh|Ai}} ({{lang|zh|愛}}) was adopted to refer to a passionate, caring love and was considered a fundamental desire. In Buddhism, {{transliteration|zh|Ai}} was seen as capable of being either selfish or selfless, the latter being a key element towards enlightenment.

In [[Mandarin Chinese]], {{lang|zh|{{linktext|愛}}}} ({{transliteration|cmn|ài}}) is often used as the equivalent of the Western concept of love. {{lang|zh|{{linktext|愛}}}} ({{transliteration|cmn|ài}}) is used as both a verb (e.g. {{lang|zh|我愛你}}, {{transliteration|cmn|Wǒ ài nǐ}}, or "I love you") and a noun (such as {{lang|zh|{{linktext|愛情}}}} {{transliteration|cmn|àiqíng}}, or "romantic love"). However, due to the influence of Confucian {{lang|zh|{{linktext|仁}}}} ({{transliteration|zh|rén}}), the phrase {{lang|zh|我愛你}} ({{transliteration|cmn|Wǒ ài nǐ}}, I love you) carries with it a very specific sense of responsibility, commitment, and loyalty. Instead of frequently saying "I love you" as in some Western societies, the Chinese are more likely to express feelings of affection in a more casual way. Consequently, "I like you" ({{lang|zh|我喜欢你}}, {{transliteration|cmn|Wǒ xǐhuan nǐ}}) is a more common way of expressing affection in Mandarin; it is more playful and less serious.<ref>{{cite web|first=JFK|last=Miller|date=2009-02-04|url=http://shanghai.urbanatomy.com/index.php/i-ahearts-shanghai/85-i-love-shanghai/429-why-the-chinese-dont-say-qi-love-youq|url-status=dead|title=Why the Chinese Don't Say I Love You|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124202633/http://shanghai.urbanatomy.com/index.php/i-ahearts-shanghai/85-i-love-shanghai/429-why-the-chinese-dont-say-qi-love-youq |archive-date=24 January 2010 }}</ref> This is also true in Japanese ({{transliteration|ja|suki da}}, {{lang|ja|好きだ}}).