Saying I love you in Chinese 我爱你
wǒàinǐ
I love you in Chinese is 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).
Also searched for as: I love you, I like you, confess your feelings, love confession, will you be my girlfriend.
Three little words, and plenty of ways around them. 15 essential Saying I love you words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The direct way to say I love you in Chinese is 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ), but many people find it too heavy for everyday use and say 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐ huan nǐ) instead, especially early on. Confessing your feelings is 表白 (biǎo bái), and there are playful number codes too: 520 (wǔ èr líng) sounds a little like 我爱你, so 20 May has become an unofficial day for couples.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我爱你 | wǒ ài nǐ | I love you |
| 我喜欢你 | wǒ xǐ huan nǐ | I like you; I fancy you |
| 表白 | biǎo bái | to confess one's feelings |
| 告白 | gào bái | declaration of love |
| 520 | wǔ èr líng | I love you (number slang) |
| 1314 | yāo sān yāo sì | forever (number slang) |
| 一生一世 | yī shēng yī shì | for the rest of my life |
| 做我女朋友吧 | zuò wǒ nǚ péng you ba | be my girlfriend |
| 在一起 | zài yī qǐ | to be together |
| 答应 | dā ying | to say yes; to agree |
| 拒绝 | jù jué | to turn down |
| 心意 | xīn yì | feelings |
| 爱上 | ài shàng | to fall in love with |
| 想你 | xiǎng nǐ | to miss you |
| 深情 | shēn qíng | deep affection; tenderly |
Usage tips
- Many Chinese speakers, especially older generations, rarely say 我爱你 out loud and show love through actions. 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐ huan nǐ) is the usual way to confess, while 我爱你 suggests a serious, established relationship.
- Number slang is common in messages: 520 for "I love you" and 1314 (yāo sān yāo sì), which sounds like 一生一世 (yī shēng yī shì), "for a lifetime". In these codes 1 is often read yāo.
- 表白 (biǎo bái) is the moment you confess. If it works, the other person 答应 (dā ying), "says yes", and you're 在一起 (zài yī qǐ), officially together.
Common mistakes
- 520 is read digit by digit, 五二零 (wǔ èr líng), not 五百二十 (wǔ bǎi èr shí), otherwise the sound pun on 我爱你 disappears. The same goes for 1314.
- Asking someone out uses 做 (zuò), "be", not 是 (shì): 做我女朋友吧 (zuò wǒ nǚ péng you ba). 是我女朋友吧 doesn't work as a request.
Mini dialogue
- A我有话想跟你说。Wǒ yǒu huà xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō.There's something I want to tell you.
- B什么话？这么认真。Shén me huà? Zhè me rèn zhēn.What is it? You look so serious.
- A其实我喜欢你很久了。做我女朋友吧？Qí shí wǒ xǐ huan nǐ hěn jiǔ le. Zuò wǒ nǚ péng you ba?To be honest, I've liked you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend?
- B你这是在表白吗？Nǐ zhè shì zài biǎo bái ma?Is this you confessing your feelings?
- A对，你愿意吗？Duì, nǐ yuàn yì ma?Yes. Will you?
- B好，我答应你。Hǎo, wǒ dā ying nǐ.Yes, I will.
Example sentences
- 我爱你，一直都爱你。I love you, I always have.
- 其实我喜欢你很久了。To be honest, I've liked you for a long time.
- 他昨天跟我表白了！He told me how he feels yesterday!
- 这是我收到过最浪漫的告白。That's the most romantic declaration I've ever had.
- 520那天他给我发了红包。He sent me a red packet on 520 (20 May).
- 我爱你，1314！I love you, forever and ever!
- 我想跟你一生一世在一起。I want to be with you for the rest of my life.
- 做我女朋友吧，好不好？Be my girlfriend, will you?
- 我们在一起吧。Let's be together.
- 她答应做我女朋友了！She said yes to being my girlfriend!
- 我怕她会拒绝我。I'm afraid she'll turn me down.
- 我终于跟他说了我的心意。I finally told him how I feel.
- 我好像爱上你了。I think I've fallen for you.
- 才分开一天，我就好想你。We've only been apart a day and I miss you so much.
- 他深情地看着她。He gazed at her tenderly.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Saying I love you speaking island has 8 everyday questions about Saying I love you to prepare your own answers to.