Chinese phrases
How to say will you marry me in Chinese
Will you marry me in Chinese is 你愿意嫁给我吗 (nǐ yuàn yì jià gěi wǒ ma) when you ask a woman. To ask a man, say 你愿意娶我吗 (nǐ yuàn yì qǔ wǒ ma).
你愿意嫁给我吗
will you marry me? (to a woman)
To propose is 求婚 (qiú hūn), literally “to ask for marriage”.
Ways to say will you marry me
你愿意嫁给我吗
Everydaywill you marry me? (to a woman)
The classic proposal, often with a ring and flowers.
你愿意娶我吗
Everydaywill you marry me? (to a man)
When a woman asks a man. Less common, and fully correct.
嫁给我吧
Everydaymarry me
Shorter and more direct, to a woman.
我们结婚吧
Everydaylet’s get married
Works for anyone. Less of a ceremony: many couples say it at home.
做我老婆吧
With friendsbe my wife
Playful, between a couple who already joke about marriage.
How to answer
我愿意
yes, I will; I do
The answer to a proposal, and the vow at a wedding.
愿意
yes (I will)
Just as good. Chinese answers a yes-no question with its verb.
好
OK
Short and happy, often the answer to 我们结婚吧.
让我想想
let me think about it
Not a no, but not a yes.
Common mistakes
Mixing up 嫁 and 娶
嫁 is what a woman does (嫁给他, “marry him”), and 娶 is what a man does (娶她, “marry her”). A man who asks 你愿意娶我吗 asks to be the bride.
Saying 娶给我
嫁 takes 给, but 娶 does not: the person comes straight after the verb. Say 娶我. 娶给我 is wrong.
Giving 结婚 an object
结婚 takes no object, so 我想结婚你 is wrong. Say 我想跟你结婚, “I want to marry you.”
The proposal
你愿意嫁给我吗？
Boyfriend: Will you marry me?
我愿意！
Girlfriend: Yes, I will!
真的吗？
Boyfriend: Really?
真的！快把戒指给我。
Girlfriend: Really! Quick, give me the ring.
