我爱你
wo ai ni
In Chinese, "I love you" is said as 我爱你 (wo ai ni).
The phrase 我爱你 is an affirmation of romantic feeling. While it is a direct translation of the English phrase, it is often considered very heavy and intense in Chinese culture and is used much less frequently in daily life than the English equivalent.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (I/me), 爱 (to love) and 你 (you).
Which one should you use?
While 我爱你 expresses deep romantic love, the phrase 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuān nǐ) is a common way to express romantic interest or "liking" someone in a less heavy, more casual way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, you can say ngo oi nei to express "I love you" in informal settings among close friends or family members.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows a standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, similar to English.
How do you pronounce it?
wo ai ni
When do people say it?
In Chinese culture, the phrase 我爱你 is often considered very heavy and intense and is used much less frequently in daily life than the English "I love you".
Did you know?
- May 20th has become an unofficial 'Love Day' in China because the date 5/20 mimics the sounds of 我爱你.
- In some Chinese dialects, the phrase 我爱你 can sound jarringly unnatural in a family setting, as familial love is traditionally expressed through the word 疼 (teng), which literally means 'to ache'.
- Rather than saying 我爱你, many parents and children in Chinese culture express love through acts of service or by asking if the other person has eaten.
Examples in context
- 汤没我爱你。Tom doesn't love you as much as I love you.This sentence shows a comparison using the phrase 我爱你.Tatoeba #13943785 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #4391193 by CK
- 我说我爱你时是认真的。I was serious when I said I love you.This sentence is useful for expressing the seriousness of the phrase 我爱你.Tatoeba #5551019 by verdastelo9604, translation #5573284 by n1ls
- “我爱你”用法语怎么讲？How do you say "I love you" in French?This sentence uses the phrase 我爱你 in a question about translation.Tatoeba #8715888 by crescat, translation #2417967 by CK
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我爱你。Zhìqiáng, wǒ ài nǐ.Zhiqiang, I love you.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我也爱你，佳怡。Wǒ yě ài nǐ, Jiāyí.I love you too, Jiayi.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你今天出门小心。Nǐ jīntiān chūmén xiǎoxīn.Be careful on your way out today.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，晚上见。Hǎo de, wǎnshàng jiàn.Okay, see you tonight.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
