你爱我吗? Nǐ ài wǒ ma? Do you love me? Talking about Relationships in Chinese
In this post we’re going to learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about relationships in Chinese. First we’ll cover basic vocabulary that you can use to talk about love and relationships. Next, we’ll move on to expressions you can use to talk about someone who’s caught your eye and who you might be interested in getting to know a bit better. After that we’ll look at some vocabulary you can use to talk about taking someone on a date. Then we’ll move on to vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about longer term relationships and marriage. Of course not all relationships end well, so we’ll also see some expressions that are related to not-to-happy relationships and break ups. Finally, we’ll end on a positive note and talk about some nice romantic Valentine’s vibes.
Basic Vocabulary for Love and Relationships in Chinese
First, let’s start with some basics. If you’re talking to your significant other, you might want to use a pet name like 宝贝 bǎo bèi sweetheart, or 亲爱的 qīn ài de darling, my love, or baby.
- 我爱你。
Wǒ ài nǐ.
I love you. - 我爱她。
Wǒ ài tā.
I love her. - 我爱他。
Wǒ ài tā.
I love him.
- 这是我的男朋友/ 女朋友。
Zhè shì wǒ de nánpéngyou/ nǚpéng you.
This is my boyfriend/girlfriend. - 这是 我的先生/ 太太。
Zhè shì wǒ de xiānsheng / tàitai.
This is my husband/wife. - 情人节快乐！
Qíng rén jié kuài lè！
Happy Valentine’s Day! - 纪念日快乐！
Jì niàn rì kuài lè！
Happy Anniversary. - 我想你。
Wǒ xiǎng nǐ.
I miss you.
Talking about Someone You’re Interested In
Next let’s see some vocabulary you can use if someone has caught your eye.
- 我非常喜欢他/她。
Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan tā/tā.
I really like him/her. - 他/她非常好看。
Tā/Tā fēicháng hǎokàn.
He is/She is really good-looking. - 她很漂亮。
Tā hěn piàoliang.
She’s beautiful. - 他很帅。
Tā hěn shuài.
He’s handsome. - 他/她很搞笑。
Tā/Tā hěn gǎoxiào.
He is/She is funny. - 他/她很有意思。
Tā/tā hěn yǒuyìsi.
He is/She is interesting. - 他/她很聪明。
Tā/tā hěn cōngming.
He is/She is smart.
Talking about Dating and Relationships in Chinese
Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to dating. Maybe there’s a mutual attraction? One way to find out is to ask.
- 我们去约会, 好吗？
Women qù yuēhui, hǎoma?
Do you want to go out with me? - 你要和 我一起 喝杯咖啡吗？
Nǐ yào hé wǒ yīqǐ hē bēi kā fēi ma?
Do you want to have coffee/drinks with me? - 我 们一起 吃晚 饭, 好吗？
Wǒmen yīqǐ chī wǎnfàn, hǎoma?
Let’s have dinner together. - 非常高兴认识你！
Fēicháng gāoxìng rènshi nǐ！
I really enjoyed getting to know you. - 你想再去约会吗？
Nǐ xiǎng zài qù yuēhui ma?
Do you want to go out again some time? - 我 希望再次见到你。
Wǒ xīwàng zàicì jiàndào nǐ.
I want to see you again. - 我想吻你。
Wǒ xiǎng wěn nǐ.
I want to kiss you.
Talking about Long-Term Relationships in Chinese
Next let’s move on to longer term relationships. If you’re in a long-term relationship, you might want to know how to say:
- 你们在一起多久了?
Nǐmen zài yīqǐ duōjiǔ le?
How long have you two been together? - 你们两个是怎么认识 的？
Nǐmen liǎnɡɡè shì zěnme rènshi de?
How did you two meet? - 我们是在工作中/ 学校认识的。
Wǒmen shì zài gōngzuò zhōng/xuéxiào rènshi de.
We met at work/school. - 我们 是在一个 派对/ 酒吧 认识的。
Wǒmen shì zài yīɡè pài duì/jiǔbā rènshi de.
We met at a party/bar. - 我们是在网上认识 的。
Wǒmen shì zài wǎnɡshànɡ rènshi de.
We met online. - 我们朋友/父母介绍我们认识的。
Wǒmen péngyou/fùmǔ jièshào women rènshide.
Our friends/parents introduced us. - 我们在一起一年/两年/很久了。
Wǒmen zài yīqǐyī nián/liǎnɡ nián/ hěnjiǔ le.
We’ve been together for a year/two years/a long time. - 我们住 在一起。
Wǒmen zhù zài yīqǐ.
We live together. - 我们 还 没有结婚。
Wǒmen hái méiyǒu jiéhūn.
We’re not married yet. - 我们想 要 结婚, 但是 还 没有准备 好。
Wǒmen xiǎng yào jiéhūn, dànshì hái méiyǒu zhǔnbèi hǎo.
We want to get married, but we’re not ready.
Talking about Marriage
Of course we can’t talk about vocabulary for relationships in Chinese without talking about marriage. If you decide that you want to get married, you might want to say:
- 你 愿意嫁 给我 吗？
Nǐ yuànyì jià gěi wǒ ma?
Will you marry me? - 我们结婚吧。
Wǒmen jiéhūn ba.
Let’s get married. - 我们订婚了。
Wǒmen dìnghūn le.
We’re engaged. - 这是我的订婚戒指。
Zhè shì wǒ de dìnghūn jiè zhi.
This is my engagement ring. - 这是我的未婚夫/未婚妻。
Zhè shì wǒde wèihūnfū/ wèihūnqī.
This is my fiancé / fiancée. - 我们正在筹划我们的 婚礼。
Wǒmen zhèngzài chóuhuà wǒmen de hūnlǐ.
We’re planning our wedding. - 我们的婚礼简单而 小。
Wǒmen de hūnlǐ jiǎndān ér xiǎo.
Our wedding will be simple and small. - 新娘很 漂亮。
Xīnniáng hěn piàoliang.
The bride is beautiful. - 新郎很帅。
Xīnláng hěn shuài.
The groom is handsome. - 婚礼很漂亮！
hūnlǐ hěn piàoliang!
The wedding was beautiful. - 这 是我的先生。
Zhè shì wǒde xiānsheng.
This is my husband. - 这是我的 太太。
Zhè shì wǒde tàitai.
This is my wife. - 你们 结婚多长时间了？
Nǐmen jiéhūn duōchángshíjiān le?
How long have you been married? - 今天是我们的结婚 纪念日。
Jīntiān shì women de jiéhūn jì niànrì.
Today is our wedding anniversary.
Talking about Difficulties in Relationships in Chinese
Next let’s move on to less happy vocabulary. Hopefully your relationship is long and strong and full of happiness. But, sometimes things just don’t work out.
- 我们已经不在 一起 了。
Wǒmen yǐjing bú zài yīqǐ le.
We’re not together anymore. - 他们在 一起 不 开心。
Tāmen zài yìqǐ bù kāixīn.
They’re not happy together. - 我们总是 争吵。
Wǒmen zǒngshì zhēngchǎo.
They argue all the time. - 他们大 吵一 架。
Tāmen dà chǎo yí jià.
They’re having a big fight. - 他背叛了她。
Tā bèipàn le tā.
He cheated on her. - 她背叛了他。
Tā bèipàn le tā.
She cheated on him. - 他/她有外遇 了。
Tā/ Tā yǒu wàiyù le.
He is/She is having an affair. - 我们分手吧。
Wǒmen fēnshǒu ba.
I want to break up with you. - 我们离婚吧。
Wǒmen líhūn ba.
I want to get a divorce. - 他们 分手了。
Tāmen fēnshǒu ba.
They broke up. - 他们离婚了。
Tāmen líhūn le.
They got divorced.
情人节快乐! Qíng rén jié kuài lè！Happy Valentine’s Day
Finally, let’s talk about the romance of Valentine’s Day.
- 这些花是送给你的。
Zhèxiē huā shì sònggěi nǐde.
These flowers are for you. - 这些巧克力是送给你的。
Zhèxiē qiǎokèlì shì sònggěi nǐde.
These chocolates are for you. - 我们吃 一顿浪漫的晚餐吧。
Wǒmen chī yí dùn làngmàn de wǎncān ba.
Let’s have a romantic dinner. - 你对我来说很重要。
Nǐ duì wǒ lái shuō hěn zhòngyào.
You’re very important to me. - 我想和你共度一 生。
Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ gong dù yì shēng.
I want to spend my life with you. - 我 一直在想你。
Wǒ yìzhí zài xiǎng nǐ.
I think about you all the time.
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