Radical 爪

10 strokes

愛

hand down (365c) + friend 友 (53) = love 爱

爱人 (12) àirén spouse

[爱情 (339) àiqíng (romantic) love]

[可爱 (140) kě’ài lovely, lovable]

[亲爱 (196) qī’nài darling, beloved]

The dying duke says, “I intend to hand down all my possessions to you when I die; you have been a true friend to me and shown me the only love I’ve ever known.” / The dwarf butler actually smiles: this had melted the ice in his heart.

When it is used as the top of a composite character, “claw” takes the form 365b below.

beret (89a) + hands reaching down (82b) = claw

The old lady always puts a beret over her hands when she reaches down for something, so that nobody can see that her hand looks like a claw. / [No pronunciation needed]

claw (365b) + cover 冖 (82a) = hand down

(The old crone is in the attic) She lifts the cover of the chest with her clawed hand and hands down the precious heirloom (to her granddaughter waiting below). / [No pronunciation needed]