宝贝
bǎobèiaffectionate, slang
Couples in Chinese often call each other 宝贝 (bǎobèi), which means "treasure" and works like "honey" or "baby". Another sweet word is 亲爱的 (qīn'ài de), "dear". It is also called 甜心 (tiánxīn).
Meaning: term of endearment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 宝贝 | bǎobèi | affectionate, slang |
| 亲爱的 | qīn'ài de | affectionate |
| 甜心 | tiánxīn | modern, from English "sweetheart" |
宝贝 (bǎobèi) is used by partners and by parents to small children. Texting couples often write it with a short sound word at the end.
Which one should you use?
亲爱的 (qīn'ài de) is a gentle, sometimes slightly formal "dear", also found in letters. 甜心 (tiánxīn) is a modern word that copies "sweetheart".
When do people say it?
Many couples in China also use 老公 (lǎogōng), "husband", and 老婆 (lǎopo), "wife", as pet names for each other.
Did you know?
- 宝贝 (bǎobèi) is also a common word for "treasure", and shops on Chinese sites even call goods 宝贝 (bǎobèi) in their listings.
Examples in context
- 宝贝，你吃饭了吗？bǎobèi, nǐ chī fàn le ma?Honey, have you eaten?
- 亲爱的，我爱你。qīn'ài de, wǒ ài nǐ.Dear, I love you.
- 晚安，甜心。wǎn'ān, tiánxīn.Good night, sweetheart.
Example conversation
Mei texts her boyfriend Jie after work.
- Mei宝贝，你下班了吗？bǎobèi, nǐ xiàbān le ma?Honey, are you off work?
- Jie刚下班，想你了。gāng xiàbān, xiǎng nǐ le.Just finished, I missed you.
- Mei我也是，晚上见。wǒ yě shì, wǎnshang jiàn.Me too, see you tonight.
