Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 迷上 | míshàng |
| 迷戀 / 迷恋 | míliàn |
| 迷住 | mízhù |
| 愛上 / 爱上 | àishàng |
| 動心 / 动心 | dòngxīn |
| 暗戀 / 暗恋 | ànliàn |
| 喜歡 / 喜欢 | xǐhuān |
Most of the forms are verbs meaning 'to fall for' or 'to be infatuated with'. If you want to describe the feeling of being captivated by someone's charm, use 迷住. For a more sudden emotional reaction, such as when a heart is captured or a spark is felt, use 動心. For a very mild way to say you like someone, use 喜歡.
What does it mean word for word?
The term for a secret crush, 暗戀, is composed of 暗 meaning 'dark' or 'secret' and 戀 meaning 'love' or 'attachment'.
Which one should you use?
While most are verbs, 暗戀 is the specific noun or verb used to describe the state of having a secret crush or unrequited love. Among the verbs, 喜歡 is a much milder and more common way to say one has a crush on someone compared to the more intense 迷戀. Regarding the feeling of attraction, 迷住 focuses more on the feeling of being captivated or enchanted by someone's charm, whereas 迷上 focuses on the act of falling for them. Finally, 動心 is used when someone's heart is suddenly moved or captured by someone else, often used to describe the moment a crush begins.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form 迷上, the particle 上 acts as a directional complement indicating the achievement of a state (falling into the state of being infatuated).
How do you pronounce it?
míshàng
Did you know?
- The character 戀 used in 暗戀 contains the radical for 'heart' 心 at the bottom, visually anchoring the emotion of longing within the word.
- The term 迷 in 迷戀 is the same character used to describe being 'lost' or 'confused' in a maze. This suggests that having a crush is akin to being lost in a state of infatuation.
- Using 喜歡 to describe a crush is so common that it is often used as a 'safe' word to avoid the intensity or social pressure of admitting a deeper 'love' 愛.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about a mutual acquaintance.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen俊杰，你是不是迷上了晓雯？Jùnjié, nǐ shì bù shì míshàngle Xiǎowén?Junjie, do you have a crush on Xiaowen?
- 俊杰 Junjie怎么这么说？我只是觉得她很优秀。Zěnme zhème shuō? Wǒ zhǐshì juéde tā hěn yōuxiù.Why do you say that? I just think she's excellent.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen因为你每次看到她都脸红。Yīnwèi nǐ měicì kàndào tā dōu liǎnhóng.Because you blush every time you see her.
- 俊杰 Junjie好吧，我承认我确实迷上了她。Hǎo ba, wǒ chéngrèn wǒ quèshí míshàngle tā.Alright, I admit I really do have a crush on her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crush” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
