Chinese phrases
How to say I hate you in Chinese
I hate you in Chinese is 我恨你 (wǒ hèn nǐ), but it is very strong and rare in real life. In everyday fights and jokes, people say 我讨厌你 (wǒ tǎo yàn nǐ), “I can’t stand you,” or just 讨厌！
我恨你
I hate you
Ways to say I hate you
我恨你
EverydayI hate you
Deep, lasting hate, after a betrayal. You hear it in TV dramas and in bitter fights. Most people almost never say it.
我讨厌你
EverydayI can’t stand you
Much milder than 恨. Children say it in a fight, and adults say it when they are hurt or annoyed. It can still sting.
讨厌
With friendsstop it, you!
Said alone, with a smile, after someone teases you. Common between couples and close friends. It is not a real complaint.
你烦死了
With friendsyou’re so annoying
When someone keeps nagging or teasing. 烦死了 alone means “this is driving me crazy” and can be about anything: traffic, homework, noise.
我受不了你
With friendsI can’t deal with you
Exasperated, and often half joking: a friend who is always late or tells the same bad joke again.
我不理你了
With friendsI’m not talking to you
A sulk, often playful. Couples and children say it, and it usually lasts a few minutes.
Common mistakes
Using 恨 for everyday dislikes
恨 is for deep hate between people. For rain, Mondays or a food, say 讨厌: 我讨厌下雨天, “I hate rainy days.”
Hearing a playful 讨厌 as anger
When a partner says 讨厌！ with a smile after a tease, it means “stop it, you,” not “I hate you.” The tone and the face tell you which one it is.
Saying 讨厌 about a host’s food
讨厌 is stronger than “don’t like”: it says the thing is unpleasant to you. At someone’s table, say 我不太喜欢吃鱼, “I don’t really like fish,” or just eat less of it.
The last piece of cake
我的蛋糕呢？
Qiqi: Where’s my cake?
我吃了，很好吃。
Leon: I ate it. It was delicious.
讨厌！我不理你了。
Qiqi: Ugh, you! I’m not talking to you.
别生气，我再给你买一个。
Leon: Don’t be cross. I’ll buy you another one.
