Every one of us has our own language and love language. But learning other languages to express your love is a whole lot of effort that could take your relationship to another level.
Chinese is the world’s most learned language for business purposes, but people often forget how sweet the language can be if you use it to express your feelings. Simple words like ‘I like you’ or ‘you are beautiful’ can brighten up your day.
When you and your partner are practising a new language, particularly learning Chinese, the first thing you have to look for is a language school that can teach you the right Mandarin characters, intonations, spellings, and words.
A legit language school will benefit you in many ways if you want to have a business in countries that speak Chinese or want to migrate there together with your partner. It might be challenging to look for the right school, but it will all be worth it.
In this article, you will simply learn how to say ‘I love you’ in Chinese. It would be best if you stick around until the end to know everything you need to know about.
Express Love in Chinese
While we mostly show our love and feelings through efforts of action. Nothing will beat the words of affirmation that you will get from your loved ones.
We express our love in different ways, and for sure, if you express your love in Chinese, your partner will see it as an effort to make your relationship sweeter and stronger than ever.
It may be challenging to learn Chinese right away, but I have listed some of the words and phrases that you should take note of. Here are the most commonly used love phrases along with the Chinese characters:
wǒ ài nǐ – 我爱你
This is a very popular word for people who have been learning the Chinese language for quite some time or even those who just watch Chinese dramas. Saying this has become easy for many but never used casually.
The traditional Chinese character for “love” or “to love” is; nevertheless, the simplified form is also. Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China, although traditional Chinese is more prevalent in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
However, native Chinese speakers rarely use this expression because it is a very serious proclamation of emotional devotion. There are other, more widely used ways to express your affection.
The fundamental distinction between the two characters is that the simplified form lacks the component 心. Because (xīn) signifies “heart” in Chinese, a common joke among traditional Chinese supporters is that there is no “love” in locations that use simplified Chinese because the character has been stripped of its heart.
The phrase “wǒ ài nǐ” (我爱你) is more than just a love expression. It can also be used to demonstrate affection among family members. However, just like with romantic relationships, it would not be used casually in a casual context.
Now, how do you answer if you want to declare you love them as well? If your girlfriend or boyfriend expresses their love for you with 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ), just say 我也爱你 (wǒ yě aì nǐ) or “I love you too”.
jiū mī – 啾咪
If you wish to express yourself in an unconventional method, you can confidently say “jiū mī” to your lover.
啾咪 (jiū mī) is a Chinese slang term that alludes to a blown kiss. It is also a lovely way to ask for a favour or express gratitude.
In a certain culture, you must do something to a person before asking them for a favour. It may be an advance thank you by saying this phrase or by making sweet gestures to them.
This expression applies not just to your relationship but also to those you care about. It is a phrase that will certainly make anyone’s day.
wǒ xǐhuan nǐ – 我喜欢你
This term is considered more appropriate for expressing your feelings to your lover in an informal or modern setting. People tend to adapt to a more modern way of expressing their feelings and emotions to someone.
The literal translation of the phrase ‘wǒ xǐhuān nǐ’ (我喜欢你) is ‘I like you.’ It is the most prevalent way to communicate (I love you) in Mandarin Chinese. If you uttered ‘wǒ ài nǐ’ 我爱你 to a Chinese person or someone you have recently started dating or had a crush on, they would definitely look at you suspiciously.
You might use this in more casual contexts where wǒ ài nǐ would be inappropriate. For instance, you could say it to your boyfriend or girlfriend before you part ways.
Or, in a casual setting where you and your partner go on a date, there is actually no harm in saying this phrase. It might actually be sweet because you will see your partner’s reaction when you say this.
wǒ xiǎng nǐ – 我想你
If you have been apart for a long time and miss your partner, this is a way to express your thoughts to them. It can actually mean a lot of things, but here are some nice and considerate interpretations.
It is not easy to not be on your partner’s side or even your family for too long. So just uttering this to them while you are on a video chat or call will make up for the days that you have been missing them.
Missing someone and thinking about them using the same term in the Chinese language. The only difference is the context.
So 我想你 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ) can indicate both ‘I miss you’ and ‘I’m thinking of you.’ These meanings are definitely a heartstopper because your partner misses you too.
wǒde xīnli zhǐyǒu nǐ – 我的心里只有你
Saying wǒde xīnlǐ zhǐyǒu nǐ (我的心里只有你) to your partner to express your love simply means ‘I only have you in my heart’ or ‘you’re the only one in my heart.‘ If you are in an intimate relationship with your partner, there are various Mandarin phrases you may use to let them know they are your one and only.
Another situation for this is when you are still at a courting stage, and you want them to know that no one besides them holds your heart and feelings. For sure, the person you are trying to impress will blush until tomorrow.
You can undoubtedly strengthen your friendship and relationship with the aid of this sentence. You can best say it frequently enough to let your partner know that your sentiments are genuine and authentic.
Use Chinese Love Numbers
In this generation, people have become more technology savvy and innovative. Everyone basically has a smartphone or a laptop that can be used to communicate with one another.
People use not only simple and traditional characters but also numbers right now. This style of expressing your feelings has been going on for years and is technically convenient for younger people.
Several chat codes have intimate meanings, and you will easily learn them just by reading. Among the Chinese text message chat codes and its meaning include:
520 (wǔ èr líng) – 我爱你
If you know Mandarin Chinese very well, especially the vernacular, you have probably noticed how frequently numerals are used in texts. The number 520 stands for I love you and pinyin 五二零 (wǔ’èr líng).
If we are to break down the numbers, they are closely related to a Chinese phrase that means “I love you.”
5 (wǔ) is comparable to the word 我 (wǒ) or I, 2 (èr) is similar to the word 爱 (ài) or love, and 0 (líng) is near to the word 你 (nǐ) or you.
Some family members, especially the older ones, might not easily understand what this means, so you have to explain it to them if you are sending it to your parents or grandparents. However, millennials can definitely understand chat codes and their beauty of it.
530 (wǔ sān líng) – 我想你
Having a long-distance relationship with your partner? This phrase means letting your partner know you are missing someone or thinking about the person. Missing them every single day is such heartache, but the good thing is you can easily communicate with them by the use of a phone and the internet.
530 (wǔ sān líng) or 我想你 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ) literally means ‘I miss you.’
Just text them this saying whenever you miss them, and it will make both of your days happier. This chat code is very expressive of your true feelings.
770 (qī qī líng) – 亲亲你
When you want to do something sweet to or want to be intimate with your partner, like texting them 770 (qī qī líng) or 亲亲你 (qīn qīn nǐ) ‘kiss you’ will let them know that you want to show them your love in this way.
It is appropriate if you say, ‘let me kiss you,’ to the right person. Because you only send these chat codes and make the gesture to the one that you love.
880 (bā bā líng) – 抱抱你
People who wish to do something special for their significant other or a member of their family frequently use this term.
If you are leaving your home for a long time and want them to remember you, you can send them a text message to let them know that you want to take this wonderful memory with you, 880 (bā bā líng) or 抱抱你 (bào bào nǐ) means ‘hug you.’
While you have the chance to hug your partner and loved ones, make sure to do so by letting them know that you want to hug them. This chat code is a lot of help if you cannot directly tell them that you want a hug.
Conclusion
Learning a foreign language can be difficult and challenging, but when it comes to sharing your affection for someone, it comes naturally and easily. You just need to choose the best manner for each party when saying ‘I love you’ to your romantic partner, family member, and friends in Chinese.
