Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 擁抱 / 拥抱 | yōngbào | |
| 摟抱 / 搂抱 | lǒubào | |
| 偎抱 | wēibào | formal |
| 依偎 | yīwēi |
These terms are used to express embracing or lying together snugly. While some forms focus on the act of hugging, others describe the act of snuggling or leaning against someone for warmth, comfort or emotional security.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 摟抱 / 搂抱 is composed of the character 摟 (lǒu), meaning to wrap arms around and 抱 (bào), meaning to hug.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their specific focus: 摟抱 / 搂抱 emphasizes the physical action of wrapping one's arms around someone, such as when holding a child. In contrast, 依偎 describes the act of nestling or leaning against someone for comfort, focusing on the closeness rather than the movement of the arms.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 偎抱 is a formal way to describe a cuddle or an affectionate embrace. For a very cute and informal way to express cuddling, you can use 抱抱.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
yōngbào
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, the act of 擁抱 was historically rare in public and was often reserved for very intimate or extreme emotional moments, unlike the casual 'hug' in English.
- The informal term 抱抱 / 抱抱, often used by children or when being 'cute', doubles the verb to create a sense of endearment. This doubling is a common way in Mandarin to soften a word and make it sound more affectionate.
- The character 抱 consists of two parts: a radical meaning 'hand' and a phonetic component, visually reminding the reader that cuddling is an action of the arms.
Examples in context
- 他将她抱在怀抱中，给予了她无尽的温暖。He held her in a loving embrace, giving her infinite warmth.
- 刚刚的电影真可爱，我们一起来一个抱抱吧！The movie we just saw was adorable, how about a little cuddle together?
- 在这个寒冷的冬天，我们可以一起依偎着温暖彼此。In this cold winter, let's cuddle up together and keep each other warm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cuddle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
