Chinese phrases

How to say boyfriend in Chinese

Boyfriend in Chinese is 男朋友 (nán péng you). In writing it is often shortened to 男友 (nán yǒu).

男朋友

nán péng you

boyfriend

Ways to say boyfriend

男朋友
nán péng you
Everyday
boyfriend
The normal word, in speech and in messages: 这是我男朋友, “this is my boyfriend.”
男友
nán yǒu
Written
boyfriend
Shorter. In news, headlines and social media posts.
对象
duì xiàng
Everyday
partner; boyfriend or girlfriend
For a man or a woman. Parents and relatives often use it, and it is common in everyday speech in the north.
老公
lǎo gōng
With friends
hubby
Many couples call each other 老公 and 老婆 long before they marry, half as a joke. To other people, say 男朋友.
男票
nán piào
Texting
boyfriend (internet slang)
Online and in chats. It comes from saying 朋友 fast. Playful, and a little dated now.
前男友
qián nán yǒu
Everyday
ex-boyfriend
Your ex. 前 means “former.”

我有男朋友了。
wǒ yǒu nán péng you le
I have a boyfriend now
The 了 marks the news: you didn’t have one before.
你有男朋友吗？
nǐ yǒu nán péng you ma
do you have a boyfriend?
Direct. Fine between friends, forward from someone you just met.
谈恋爱
tán liàn ài
to be in a relationship
他们在谈恋爱, “they’re dating.”
脱单
tuō dān
to stop being single
Said with a smile: 我脱单了, “I’m not single any more.”

男朋友 for a male friend
男朋友 always means boyfriend. A friend who is a man is just 朋友, or 男性朋友 if you need to say that he is a man.
Hearing 对象 as “object”
In a report, 对象 is a subject or a target, as in 研究对象. At the family table it means a partner. When an aunt asks 有对象了吗, she wants to know if you are seeing someone.
Taking 老公 at face value
A young woman who says 我老公 may not be married. Couples use 老公 early, and fans also say it about a star they like.

有对象了吗？
yǒu duì xiàng le ma
Aunt: Are you seeing anyone?
有了，我有男朋友了。
yǒu le, wǒ yǒu nán péng you le
Qiqi: Yes, I have a boyfriend now.
真的？什么时候带回来看看？
zhēn de? shén me shí hou dài huí lai kàn kan
Aunt: Really? When are you bringing him home?
明年吧！
míng nián ba
Qiqi: Maybe next year!