How to Say I Love You in Chinese

Co-authored by Godspeed Chen and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: March 18, 2024 Fact Checked

The literal translation of the English phrase "I love you" in Mandarin Chinese is "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你). However, this phrase is an extremely serious declaration of emotional attachment in Chinese and is rarely heard among native speakers. There are other ways to say "I love you" that are more commonly used. You can also use related phrases to express how much you care for someone without using those 3 serious words. More often, though, the Chinese express their love and affection for others nonverbally, through their actions and their behavior towards someone.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Telling Someone You Love Them

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1
Say "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) to literally say "I love you" to someone. The phrase "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) is the most literal way to say "I love you" in Chinese. This is considered an expression of extremely strong emotion and is never used casually.^{[2]
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- Use this phrase to express a lifelong love for someone in a more formal situation or serious occasion. For example, you might say this to your new spouse at your wedding, or on an anniversary.
- The phrase "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) is not just romantic. It can also be used to express love between family members. However, as with romantic partners, it wouldn't be used off-handedly in a casual setting.
2
Go with "wǒ xǐ huān nǐ" (我喜欢你) to express romantic feelings. A Chinese person would probably look at you strangely if you said "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) to them — especially someone you just started dating or have a crush on. A literal translation of the phrase "wǒ xǐ huān nǐ" (我喜欢你) would be "I like you," but it is actually the most common way to say "I love you" in Mandarin Chinese.^{[3]
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- This phrase is also used in more casual situations where "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) would be considered out of place. For example, you might say it to your romantic partner before the two of you go your separate ways.
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3
Use numbers to say "I love you" in a text message. Texting is very popular in China and a text short-hand has emerged to express your feelings for someone using numbers rather than the words themselves (either in Chinese or in English). The numbers are used in place of Chinese characters because the word for the number in Chinese is pronounced roughly the same as the character itself. Some romantic Chinese text message abbreviations include:^{[4]
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- 520 (wǔ èr líng) stands for "wǒ ài nǐ" (I love you)
- 770 (qī qī líng) stands for "qīn qīn nǐ" (kiss you)
- 880 (bā bā líng) stands for "bào bào nǐ" (hug you)
- 530 (wǔ sān líng) stands for "wǒ xiǎng nǐ" (miss you). This phrase can also be interpreted to mean that you're thinking about the person.
Culture Tip: Since Chinese people more commonly express their love nonverbally, through gestures and physical affection, "qīn qīn nǐ" (亲亲你) and "bào bào nǐ" (抱抱你) are often used to say "I love you."
4
Try simply saying "I love you" in English. While it's not Chinese, many Chinese speakers will switch to English when they want to tell someone they love them. Primarily, they do this because the phrase "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) is considered far too strong or too serious.^{[5]
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- If you're just saying "I love you" in a casual moment, such as when getting off the phone, it would probably be more appropriate to say it in English than to say it in Chinese.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Other Romantic Words and Phrases

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1
Say "wǒ xiǎng nǐ" to let a romantic interest know you're thinking about them. The phrase "wǒ xiǎng nǐ" (我想你) can mean either "I miss you" or "I'm thinking of you." Either is considered an expression of affection. The person's understanding of the phrase really depends on the context in which you say it.^{[6]
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- For example, if you texted the phrase to someone you hadn't seen in a while, it might more commonly be interpreted to mean that you missed them, although either understanding would be appropriate.
- If you've only met the person recently, it would typically be interpreted to mean that you were thinking about them.
2
Try phrases that reflect your exclusive relationship. If you are in an exclusive relationship with your romantic interest, there are several Mandarin phrases you can use to let them know that they are your "one and only." These phrases let your romantic interest know that they are special and loved. Some phrases to try include:^{[7]
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- Nǐ shì wǒ de wéiyī (你是我的唯): You are my only one
- Wǒ de xīnlǐ zhǐ yǒu nǐ (我的心里只有你): In my heart there is only you
- Wǒ huì yīzhí péizhe nǐ (我会一直陪着你): I will always stay with you
Tip: Avoid using these phrases if you're not already in an exclusive, committed relationship with someone. If you use them with a crush or someone you just started dating, they may have the opposite of your intended effect and scare the person away.
3
Give your romantic interest a compliment in Chinese. If you want to show someone that you're interested in them romantically or find them attractive, complimenting them is a good start. At the least, you've indicated that you think of them positively. Some phrases to use include:^{[8]
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- Nǐ zhēn piàoliang (你真漂亮): You're so beautiful
- Nǐ hǎo shuài (你好帅): You're so handsome
- Chuān yī fú zhēn pèi nǐ (穿衣服真配你): You look great in those clothes^{[9]
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Indicate your romantic interest in someone by saying "wǒ duì nǐ gǎn xìng qu." The phrase "wǒ duì nǐ gǎn xìng qu" (我对你感兴趣) means "I'm interested in you." If you've met someone and want to go out on a date or pursue a romantic relationship with them, this phrase will let them know how you feel.^{[10]
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- You might also try "wǒ xǐhuān nǐ" (我喜欢你), which means "I've got a crush on you," or "wǒ rènwéi nǐ bù jǐnjǐn zhǐ shì yí gè péngyǒu" (我认为你不仅仅只是一个朋友), which means "I think of you as more than a friend."^{[11]
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Express your gratitude to the person for being in your life. If you say "nǐ duì wǒ éryán rúcǐ zhòngyào" (你对我而言如此重要) to someone, you're saying "you mean so much to me." While this phrase is typically used in a romantic context, you could also use it with a friend or family member who has gone out of their way to help you out.^{[12]
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- When you say this to someone, they will see that you recognize and appreciate their efforts and care deeply for them.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Expressing Your Feelings in Other Ways

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1
Do something nice for the person you love. Many Chinese people believe that your actions truly speak louder than your words. It's likely that your loved one will gauge how much they mean to you by what you do for them rather than how often you say romantic things to them.^{[13]
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- For example, you might do a chore for them that you know they particularly dislike or have a difficult time doing.
- You might also cook them their favorite meal, record their favorite TV show for them, or get them tickets to a concert you know they'll enjoy.
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Make something special for the person you love. You don't have to be particularly crafty or artistic to make something creative that the person you love will cherish. Just the fact that you made it with them in mind will warm their heart.^{[14]
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- For example, you might print photos of the two of you together and make a scrapbook of your relationship and all the adventures you've been on.
- You might also make a sign or poster related to the person or something they enjoy.
- If you're musically inclined, you might consider writing a song that tells the person how much they mean to you.
3
Demonstrate affection through gestures and touch. Chinese people express their love more often nonverbally. If you love someone, let them know by holding their hand frequently and putting your arm around them. Leaning next to them or cuddling while the two of you are engaged in something else lets them know that you're attached to them.^{[15]
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- For example, you might put your arms around your significant other's waist as they're cooking, or massage their shoulders as they're reading or working.
4
Write a love letter to your romantic interest. Ornate, handwritten letters are cherished in Chinese culture, so if you write a love letter to your romantic interest in Chinese you'll be certain to capture their attention (and their heart). In this kind of letter, you can afford to be more serious without having to worry that you'll offend them.^{[16]
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- For example, "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你) would be much more appropriate in a formal love letter than if you simply said it.
- If you're just starting to learn Chinese, you might want to have a native speaker look over your letter before you give it to your beloved.

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What are different ways to say, ‘I love you,’ in Chinese?

Godspeed Chen
Native Chinese Speaker & Translator
Godspeed Chen is a Professional Translator from China. He has been working in translation and localization for over 15 years.

Godspeed Chen

Native Chinese Speaker & Translator

Expert Answer

In Mandarin, common ways to say, ‘I love you,’ are 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) and 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐ huān nǐ). A more subtle way of telling someone your feelings is to say, 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).

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How do I say "called your love" in Chinese?

Alee T

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Say "Ni hao wo de ai". Pronounced "Ni how wuo d i". Practice saying that over and over until you become familiar with it.

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Tips

Tones are represented in pinyin (Chinese written with Latin characters) by marks over the vowel: first tone ( ¯ ), second tone ( ´ ), third tone ( ˇ ), fourth tone ( ` ). These marks are a shorthand that tell you exactly how your tone of voice should change with that syllable.^{[17]
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All pronunciations in this article are approximate and don't reflect the proper tone. To get the tones right, listen to a native speaker pronouncing the words and phrases and try to mimic exactly how they say it.

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This article discusses how to say "I love you" in Mandarin. Mandarin is the official language of China and the most widely spoken variety of Chinese. However, there are at least 4 other varieties of Chinese and numerous dialects, many of which are mutually unintelligible.^{[18]
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Because Chinese is a tonal language, if you don't get your tones right, you run the risk of being misunderstood. The first tone is high and level. The second tone starts in the middle range and rises. The third tone starts in the middle, lowers, then rises. The fourth tone starts high, then lowers.^{[19]
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