What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (I/me), 爱 (love) and 你 (you).
Which one should you use?
While 我爱你 is a heavy declaration of deep love, 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuān nǐ) is a common way to express romantic interest or "liking" someone in a less intense manner. For expressing that you have feelings for someone, you can also use the informal phrase 我对你有感觉 (Wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎnjué). If you wish to express eternal devotion, the phrase 我爱你到永远 (Wǒ ài nǐ dào yǒngyuǎn) means "I love you forever".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Cantonese dialect, the expression 我愛你 (Ngo5 oi3 lei5) is used to say "I love you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase follows a standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, just like English.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ ài nǐ
When do people say it?
Speakers may also use terms of endearment such as 心肝 (Xīngān) for "Sweetheart", or refer to a spouse as 老公 (Lǎogōng) for "Husband" or 老婆 (Lǎopó) for "Wife".
Did you know?
- In the digital age, many young people use the number '520' in text messages as a shorthand for 'I love you' because the pronunciation of 'five two zero' sounds similar to 'I love you' in Mandarin.
- The term 心肝 (Xīngān), used as a term of endearment, literally translates to 'heart and liver', which are considered the most vital organs.
- May 20th has become an unofficial 'Love Day' in China because the date 5/20 mimics the sounds of 我爱你.
Examples in context
- 汤没我爱你。Tom doesn't love you as much as I love you.This example shows how to use 我爱你 in a comparison.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 example shows how to use 我爱你 to emphasize sincerity.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 example uses 我爱你 to ask for a translation into another language.Tatoeba #8715888 by crescat, translation #2417967 by CK
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is celebrating their anniversary at a quiet restaurant.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，我爱你。Jùnjié, wǒ ài nǐ.Junjie, I love you.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也爱你，梓涵。Wǒ yě ài nǐ, Zǐhán.I love you too, Zihan.
- 梓涵 Zihan今天真的很开心。Jīntiān zhēn de hěn kāixīn.I am really happy today.
- 俊杰 Junjie我会永远陪着你的。Wǒ huì yǒngyuǎn péizhe nǐ de.I will always stay by your side.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
