How to say I love you in Chinese

Ways to say I love you

• 我爱你

  wǒ ài nǐ

  Everyday

  I love you

  Serious and deep. Couples say it at big moments, and many say it out loud only rarely.

• 我喜欢你

  wǒ xǐ huan nǐ

  Everyday

  I like you; I have feelings for you

  The usual way to tell someone how you feel. Said to someone’s face, it’s a confession.

• 我对你有好感

  wǒ duì nǐ yǒu hǎo gǎn

  Everyday

  I’m drawn to you

  Softer than 我喜欢你: you like them and want to know them better.

• 爱你

  ài nǐ

  Texting

  love you

  At the end of a message to a partner, and sometimes to family: 晚安，爱你. You also see 520, which sounds like 我爱你.

• 爱死你了

  ài sǐ nǐ le

  With friends

  love you to bits

  Playful thanks when a friend does something nice, such as bringing you a coffee. Not romantic.

Common mistakes

• Saying 我爱你 too early

  我爱你 is heavy. When you start dating or tell someone how you feel, the normal line is 我喜欢你. 我爱你 comes later.

• Saying 我喜欢你 to a friend

  Said to someone’s face, 我喜欢你 usually means romantic interest. To tell a friend you like them as a person, say 你人真好, “you’re a lovely person.”

• Expecting 我爱你 from parents

  Many Chinese parents rarely say 我爱你. They show it with questions and advice instead: 吃饭了吗, 多穿点.

Good night messages

• 我到家了。

  wǒ dào jiā le

  Girlfriend: I’m home.

• 好，早点睡。我爱你。

  hǎo, zǎo diǎn shuì. wǒ ài nǐ

  Boyfriend: OK, get some sleep. I love you.

• 我也爱你。晚安！

  wǒ yě ài nǐ. wǎn ān

  Girlfriend: I love you too. Good night!

More Chinese phrases

• I miss you我想你 · wǒ xiǎng nǐ
• Beautiful漂亮 · piào liang
• Cute可爱 · kě ài
• Good night晚安 · wǎn ān
• Happy birthday生日快乐 · shēng rì kuài lè

What 520 and other Chinese number slang mean

In the dictionary: 爱 · 喜欢 · 好感