可愛い
かわいい · kawaii · JLPT N5 · i-adj
cute
🐱 可愛い = able (可) + love (愛): lovable, so cute
The kanji are ateji: 可 means can or able, 愛 means love, so the spelling reads as able to be loved. The word itself comes from older kawayui, from kao-hayushi (face flushed), which shifted from embarrassed to pitiable to adorable.
可 — mouth 口 + breath marker 丁 (modified)
可 originally depicted a mouth (口) with a curved stroke suggesting exhaled breath or speech, conveying approval or assent. From this came the meaning 'to permit' or 'can,' as granting permission was expressed verbally. Today it broadly means 'may,' 'can,' or 'approve.'