Saying “I love you” is sweet, but saying it in Chinese? That’s next-level romance! Mandarin is full of fun and creative ways to express love, ranging from the classic to the quirky. Whether you’re impressing a date, sending a flirty text, or learning for fun, here are 10 playful ways to say “I love you” in Chinese.
1. 我愛你
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄞˋ ㄋㄧˇ
Pinyin: wǒ ài nǐ
Let’s start with the classic. This is your straight-up, no-frills “I love you.” Perfect for serious confessions or a heartfelt moment.
2. 520
Bopomofo: ㄨˇ ㄦˋ ㄌㄧㄥˊ
Pinyin: wǔ èr líng
Want to keep it short and sweet? Just say 520 (wǔ èr líng). It sounds like 我愛你 (wǒ ài nǐ) and is super popular in texts, on social media, or even engraved on jewelry!
3. 我喜歡你
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄋㄧˇ
Pinyin: wǒ xǐhuān nǐ
Not ready for the big “L” word? This means “I like you” and works great for new crushes or those early relationship vibes.
4. 我對你有感覺
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ
Pinyin: wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎnjué
Feeling a spark? This phrase means “I have feelings for you.” It’s subtle, romantic, and oh-so-charming.
5. 你是我的唯一
Bopomofo: ㄋㄧˇ ㄕˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄨㄟˊ ㄧ
Pinyin: nǐ shì wǒ de wéi yī
“You’re my one and only.” Nothing says romance like making someone feel they’re the center of your world!
6. 你是我的寶貝
Bopomofo: ㄋㄧˇ ㄕˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄅㄠˇ ㄅㄟˋ
Pinyin: nǐ shì wǒ de bǎobèi
This one translates to “You’re my baby.” Cute, sweet, and perfect for that lovey-dovey mood.
7. 我想和你在一起
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧˇ
Pinyin: wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ zài yīqǐ
“I want to be with you.” Use this when you’re ready to take things to the next level—it’s basically the Mandarin version of asking someone to go steady!
8. 我為你著迷
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄨㄟˊ ㄋㄧˇ ㄓㄠˊ ㄇㄧˊ
Pinyin: wǒ wèi nǐ zháomí
Feeling mesmerized? This means “I’m captivated by you.” It’s a poetic way to express deep admiration and attraction.
9. 你是我生命中的最重要的人
Bopomofo: ㄋㄧˇ ㄕˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄖㄣˊ
Pinyin: nǐ shì wǒ shēngmìng zhōng de zuì zhòngyào de rén
Long, but oh-so-romantic! It means “You are the most important person in my life.” Save this one for your soulmate.
10. 我喜歡和你在一起
Bopomofo: ㄨㄛˇ ㄒㄧˇ ㄏㄨㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ㄋㄧˇ ㄗㄞˋ ㄧ ㄑㄧˇ
Pinyin: wǒ xǐhuān hé nǐ zài yīqǐ
“I like being with you.” Simple, heartfelt, and perfect for those everyday moments when you just want to say you care.
Love in Chinese Culture: Did You Know?
Chinese culture doesn’t just have one Valentine’s Day—it has three!
- February 14th: The “Western” Valentine’s Day, celebrated with roses and chocolates.
- Double Seventh Festival: Also known as Qixi, it’s the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day. We’ll explain more in a bit!
- May 20th (5/20): Also called “I Love You Day” because 520 sounds like 我愛你 (wǒ ài nǐ). It’s a perfect day for love declarations and gift-giving.
But wait, there’s more! There is also a day for singles:
- November 11th (11.11): Known as Singles’ Day, this is the world’s biggest shopping holiday, made famous by Alibaba.
Mandarin gives you so many creative ways to say “I love you.” Whether you’re sticking with the classic 我愛你, texting 520, or using a poetic phrase like 我為你著迷, there’s no shortage of ways to express your feelings.
So go ahead—pick your favorite and let the love flow! ❤️
Join our Substack “Mandarin Zest“, where we regularly share intermediate to advanced Chinese learning content. Make sure to subscribe!
Bubble Tea Island 