Have you ever wondered how native speakers express romance or confess feelings beyond the familiar “Wǒ ài nǐ” (I love you)? Learning love in Chinese is not just about vocabulary – it’s about capturing subtle emotions and heartfelt moments. Language allows us to connect deeply with the people we care about, and romantic expressions in Chinese can sound especially sweet, poetic, and meaningful.
In this guide, Ni Hao Ma introduces essential love-related Chinese vocabulary along with charming phrases you can use to express affection or confess your feelings. Let’s explore together!
Useful Vocabulary about Love in Chinese
Love is one of the most beautiful and emotional aspects of life. The vocabulary below will help you express feelings naturally when talking to your partner, crush, or someone special.
Vocabulary about relationship in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 恋人 | liànrén | Lover |
| 情侣 | qínglǚ | Couple |
| 男朋友 | nán péngyou | Boyfriend |
| 女朋友 | nǚ péngyou | Girlfriend |
| 对象 | duìxiàng | Significant other |
| 爱人 | àirén | Beloved / Partner |
| 丈夫 | zhàngfu | Husband |
| 妻子 | qīzi | Wife |
| 未婚夫 | wèihūnfū | Fiancé (male) |
| 未婚妻 | wèihūnqī | Fiancée (female) |
| 关系 | guānxi | Relationship |
| 恋爱 | liàn’ài | Being in love / Dating status |
| 暗恋 | ànliàn | Secret crush |
| 白月光 | bái yuèguāng | “White moonlight” – someone you love but cannot have |
| 初恋 | chūliàn | First love |
| 异地恋 | yìdì liàn | Long-distance relationship |
| 网恋 | wǎngliàn | Online relationship |
| 夫妻 | fūqī | Husband & wife |
| 订婚 | dìnghūn | Engagement |
| 伴侣 | bànlǚ | Life partner |
| 第三者 | dìsānzhě | The third person (homewrecker) |
| 求婚 | qiúhūn | To propose |
| 单身 | dānshēn | Single |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | Break up |
| 离婚 | líhūn | Divorce |
| 前女友 | qián nǚyǒu | Ex-girlfriend |
| 前男友 | qián nán yǒu | Ex-boyfriend |
| 前任 | qiánrèn | Ex-lover |
| 吵架 | chǎojià | To argue |
| 复合 | fùhé | To get back together |
Expressing Emotions & Affection: Love in Chinese
Love can be joyful, emotional, and sometimes complicated. To express your heart in Mandarin, it’s helpful to know vocabulary related to feelings and romantic actions.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 喜欢 | xǐhuān | To like |
| 爱 | ài | To love |
| 想念 | xiǎngniàn | To miss someone |
| 心动 | xīndòng | To feel butterflies / be touched |
| 感动 | gǎndòng | To be moved emotionally |
| 吃醋 | chī cù | To be jealous |
| 依赖 | yīlài | To depend on emotionally |
| 信任 | xìnrèn | To trust |
| 珍惜 | zhēnxī | To cherish |
| 理解 | lǐjiě | To understand |
| 关心 | guānxīn | To care for |
| 温暖 | wēnnuǎn | Warm / comforting |
| 感受 | gǎnshòu | To feel (emotionally) |
| 拥抱 | yōngbào | To hug |
| 亲吻 | qīnwěn | To kiss |
| 牵手 | qiānshǒu | To hold hands |
| 告白 | gàobái | To confess love |
| 约会 | yuēhuì | To go on a date |
| 陪伴 | péibàn | To accompany, be there for someone |
| 表达 | biǎodá | To express (feelings) |
| 习惯 | xíguàn | To be used to (someone) |
| 相爱 | xiāng’ài | To be in love with each other |
| 和好 | héhǎo | To make up (after a fight) |
| 感情 | gǎnqíng | Emotional bond |
| 宠爱 | chǒng’ài | To spoil with love |
| 温柔 | wēnróu | Gentle, tender |
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 心疼 | xīnténg | To feel heartache / to feel hurt when the person you love is sad |
| 思念 | sīniàn | Deep longing / intense missing |
| 着迷 | zháomí | Fascinated / captivated by someone |
| 害羞 | hàixiū | Shy, bashful |
| 羡慕 | xiànmù | To admire |
| 担心 | dānxīn | To worry about someone |
| 心安 | xīn’ān | To feel at peace with someone |
| 原谅 | yuánliàng | To forgive |
| 照顾 | zhàogù | To take care of someone |
| 宽容 | kuānróng | To be tolerant / forgiving |
| 守护 | shǒuhù | To protect and stand by someone |
| 浪漫 | làngmàn | Romantic |
| 激动 | jīdòng | Excited / emotionally touched |
| 承诺 | chéngnuò | Promise / commitment |
| 忠诚 | zhōngchéng | Loyal / faithful |
| 拒绝 | jùjué | To reject |
| 牺牲 | xīshēng | To sacrifice |
| 甜蜜 | tiánmì | Sweet / affectionate |
| 默契 | mòqì | Mutual understanding / silent harmony |
| 感谢 | gǎnxiè | Grateful / thankful |
| 迁就 | qiānjiù | To compromise (for love) |
| 相遇 | xiāngyù | To meet (by fate) |
| 留恋 | liúliàn | To feel attached / reluctant to let go |
Vocabulary to Describe What You Love About Someone
When you fall for someone, it’s often not just their appearance — it’s their kindness, sincerity, and the way they make you feel. These words help you describe attractive qualities when talking about love in Chinese.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | Beautiful |
| 帅气 | shuàiqì | Handsome |
| 迷人 | mírén | Charming / attractive |
| 聪明 | cōngmíng | Intelligent |
| 温柔 | wēnróu | Gentle and warm |
| 体贴 | tǐtiē | Thoughtful, caring |
| 善良 | shànliáng | Kind-hearted |
| 开朗 | kāilǎng | Cheerful, bright personality |
| 幽默 | yōumò | Humorous |
| 真诚 | zhēnchéng | Sincere |
| 稳重 | wěnzhòng | Calm and steady |
| 可靠 | kěkào | Reliable |
| 贴心 | tiēxīn | Attentive / understanding |
| 有耐心 | yǒu nàixīn | Patient |
| 自信 | zìxìn | Confident |
| 有责任感 | yǒu zérèn gǎn | Responsible |
| 温暖 | wēnnuǎn | Warm, comforting personality |
| 浪漫 | làngmàn | Romantic |
| 纯真 | chúnzhēn | Pure and genuine |
| 坚强 | jiānqiáng | Strong / resilient |
| 乐观 | lèguān | Positive, optimistic |
| 有魅力 | yǒu mèilì | Charismatic |
| 温和 | wēnhé | Soft-spoken, gentle |
| 大方 | dàfāng | Generous |
| 耐心倾听 | nàixīn qīngtīng | A good listener |
| 知性 | zhīxìng | Intelligent and graceful |
| 有分寸 | yǒu fēncùn | Tactful, knows boundaries |
| 坦率 | tǎnshuài | Honest and straightforward |
Dating Vocabulary for Practicing Love in Chinese
The dating stage is when feelings grow naturally through shared experiences. Use the words below to talk about dates, invitations, and romantic time together.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 约会 | yuēhuì | To go on a date |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | To chat |
| 散步 | sànbù | To take a walk |
| 看电影 | kàn diànyǐng | To watch a movie |
| 吃晚饭 | chī wǎnfàn | To have dinner together |
| 喝咖啡 | hē kāfēi | To have coffee |
| 牵手 | qiānshǒu | To hold hands |
| 拥抱 | yōngbào | To hug |
| 亲吻 | qīnwěn | To kiss |
| 一起购物 | yīqǐ gòuwù | To go shopping together |
| 一起做饭 | yīqǐ zuòfàn | To cook together |
| 听音乐 | tīng yīnyuè | To listen to music |
| 看日落 | kàn rìluò | To watch the sunset |
| 看星星 | kàn xīngxing | To watch the stars |
| 拍照 | pāizhào | To take photos |
| 去公园 | qù gōngyuán | To go to the park |
| 去海边 | qù hǎibiān | To go to the beach |
| 一起旅行 | yīqǐ lǚxíng | To travel together |
| 逛街 | guàngjiē | To walk around town |
| 做手工礼物 | zuò shǒugōng lǐwù | To make a handmade gift |
| 看演唱会 | kàn yǎnchànghuì | To go to a concert |
| 去博物馆 | qù bówùguǎn | To visit a museum |
| 看展览 | kàn zhǎnlǎn | To see an exhibition |
| 驾车兜风 | jiàchē dōufēng | To go for a drive |
| 一起健身 | yīqǐ jiànshēn | To work out together |
| 野餐 | yěcān | To have a picnic |
| 写情书 | xiě qíngshū | To write a love letter |
| 送花 | sòng huā | To give flowers |
| 准备惊喜 | zhǔnbèi jīngxǐ | To prepare a surprise |
Terms of Endearment Used by Couples in Chinese
In Chinese, the way couples address each other is more than just calling a name — it expresses affection, closeness, and emotional warmth. Using sweet and intimate terms of address can make the relationship feel more loving and personal, showing the other person how special they are to you.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 老公 | lǎo gōng | Husband / Hubby |
| 老婆 | lǎo pó | Wife / Wifey |
| 宝贝 | bǎo bèi | Baby / Honey / Sweetheart |
| 亲爱的 | qīn ài de | My love / Darling |
| 亲 | qīn | Babe / Honey (short and casual form) |
| 爱人 | ài rén | Lover / Spouse |
| 心肝 | xīn gān | “My heart” (very affectionate) |
| 傻瓜 | shǎ guā | “Silly” (cute teasing nickname) |
| 宝宝 | bǎo bao | Sweetie / Cutie (very affectionate and gentle) |
Romantic Confession Sentences in Chinese
Once the relationship starts to deepen, sincerely expressing your feelings is a meaningful step toward becoming an official couple. Below are some commonly used phrases for confessing love in Chinese — sweet, clear, and heartfelt.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 我喜欢你。 | Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ. | I like you. |
| 我爱你。 | Wǒ ài nǐ. | I love you. |
| 我对你有感觉。 | Wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎnjué. | I have feelings for you. |
| 你对我来说很特别。 | Nǐ duì wǒ lái shuō hěn tèbié. | You are very special to me. |
| 我想和你在一起。 | Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ zài yīqǐ. | I want to be with you. |
| 做我的女朋友/男朋友，好吗？ | Zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyou / nánpéngyou, hǎo ma? | Will you be my girlfriend / boyfriend? |
| 我想照顾你。 | Wǒ xiǎng zhàogù nǐ. | I want to take care of you. |
| 遇见你是我最幸运的事。 | Yùjiàn nǐ shì wǒ zuì xìngyùn de shì. | Meeting you is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me. |
| 我想跟你过一辈子。 | Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ guò yī bèizi. | I want to spend my whole life with you. |
| 我想追你。 | Wǒ xiǎng zhuī nǐ. | I want to pursue you. |
| 我可以追你吗？ | Wǒ kěyǐ zhuī nǐ ma? | May I pursue you? |
| 我的心里只有你。 | Wǒ de xīnlǐ zhǐyǒu nǐ. | You are the only one in my heart. |
| 第一次见你，我就喜欢上你了。 | Dì yī cì jiàn nǐ, wǒ jiù xǐhuān shàng nǐ le. | I liked you from the first moment I saw you. |
Note: In Chinese, 我 (Wǒ) and 你 (Nǐ) are not gender-specific, meaning you can use these phrases regardless of who is speaking or receiving them. You can also replace “you” with your own cute nicknames to make your confession feel more natural and intimate.
Popular Chinese Idioms and Expressions About Love
When learning how to express love in Chinese, you’ll notice that Chinese culture doesn’t rely only on direct words like “I love you.” Instead, feelings are often conveyed through poetic idioms and symbolic expressions. These phrases carry emotional depth, cultural meaning, and a sense of romance that is both subtle and profound.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一见钟情 | yí jiàn zhōng qíng | To fall in love at first sight. |
| 白头偕老 | bái tóu xié lǎo | Wishing a couple to grow old together in lasting love. |
| 心心相印 | xīn xīn xiāng yìn | A deep emotional connection; thinking and feeling in harmony. |
| 相伴一生 | xiāng bàn yì shēng | To stay together for a lifetime. |
| 情深似海 | qíng shēn sì hǎi | A love as vast and deep as the ocean. |
| 山盟海誓 | shān méng hǎi shì | A solemn vow of eternal love. |
| 两情相悦 | liǎng qíng xiāng yuè | Mutual affection; both sides are in love. |
| 天作之合 | tiān zuò zhī hé | A match made in heaven. |
| 一心一意 | yì xīn yí yì | Wholehearted loyalty and devotion. |
| 心有灵犀 | xīn yǒu líng xī | A deep emotional resonance; connected hearts. |
| 郎才女貌 | láng cái nǚ mào | A perfect, well-matched couple. |
| 天长地久 | tiān cháng dì jiǔ | A love that lasts as long as the sky and earth. |
Conclusion
In this guide, we explored essential vocabulary and heartfelt expressions to help you talk about love in Chinese – from everyday affectionate phrases to poetic idioms full of romantic depth. We hope this inspires you to express your feelings more confidently and beautifully to the person who matters to you.
If you’d like to continue your Chinese learning journey, follow our website for more lessons, cultural insights, and romantic expressions. And don’t hesitate to contact Ni Hao Ma for course recommendations and personalized learning support.
