我都愛你
ngóh dōu oi néih
The Cantonese phrase for "I love you too" is 我都愛你 (ngóh dōu oi néih).
This phrase is used as a response to tell someone that you feel the same love for them.
Which one should you use?
You may encounter 我都鐘意你, which means "I love you too" in an informal setting or 我都好愛你, which means "I really love you too" in an informal setting.
How do you pronounce it?
ngóh dōu oi néih
Did you know?
- In many Cantonese-speaking households, expressing affection through words like 我都愛你 is less common than showing it through food. A parent might show they 'love you too' by placing a piece of fruit in your bowl without saying a word.
- Because 愛 can feel overly formal, couples in Hong Kong frequently use English phrases like 'I love you' even when speaking Cantonese.
- The word 愛 is a pictograph that originally depicted a heart. In modern Cantonese, while it means 'love', it can also be used to describe a passion or obsession with a hobby.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung志強，我愛你！zi keung, ngo oi nei!Zi Keung, I love you!
- 志強 Chi Keung曉彤，我都愛你。hiu tung, ngo dou oi neiHiu Tung, I love you too.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung晚上見。maan gaan ginSee you tonight.
- 志強 Chi Keung好，晚上見。hou, maan gaan ginOkay, see you tonight.
