wǒ ài nǐ
standard
In pinyin "I love you" in Chinese is wǒ ài nǐ, written 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ). The three words mean "I", "love" and "you" in that order. It is also called wǒ xǐhuan nǐ.
Meaning: declaration of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Note |
|---|---|
| wǒ ài nǐ | standard |
| wǒ xǐhuan nǐ | softer, "I like you" |
Wǒ ài nǐ is a serious statement of love between partners and is also said to children. Chinese speakers often keep it for important moments.
Which one should you use?
Wǒ xǐhuan nǐ, written 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuan nǐ), means "I like you" and is the usual first step when someone is confessing feelings.
How do you pronounce it?
Wǒ and nǐ have the third tone and ài has a sharp falling fourth tone.
When do people say it?
Young people also use the number code 520 for wǒ ài nǐ, because wǔ èr líng sounds similar.
Did you know?
- The word ài is written 爱 in simplified characters. The traditional form 愛 still has a heart radical inside it.
Examples in context
- Wǒ yě ài nǐ.I love you too.
- Wǒ hěn xǐhuan nǐ.I like you a lot.
Example conversation
Hui calls his wife Lian from a business trip.
- HuiWǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ.I miss you a lot.
- LianWǒ yě xiǎng nǐ.I miss you too.
- HuiWǒ ài nǐ.I love you.
