Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 吻 | wěn | /wən²¹⁴/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /mɐn¹³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
| 親 / 亲 | qīn | |
| 親吻 / 亲吻 | qīnwěn | |
| 接吻 | jiēwěn | /t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵⁵ wən²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡siːp̚³ mɐn¹³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
| 親嘴 / 亲嘴 | qīnzuǐ |
In Chinese, several words can express the concept of a kiss. You can use 吻 to mean a kiss (noun) or to perform the action of kissing (verb). For a more specific description, 热吻 refers to a passionate kiss, while 轻吻 indicates a gentle kiss.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 亲吻 is a compound word where 亲 means to touch or be close to and 吻 means kiss.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the level of formality and the specific nature of the act. 吻 is a literary and formal way to refer to a kiss. In contrast, 接吻 is a formal compound verb specifically used to describe the act of two people kissing each other. For a more colloquial and direct way to say 'to kiss', use 亲嘴.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
亲吻 is the formal phrase for "kiss". For casual spoken Chinese, the single syllable 亲 is often used as an informal verb for a quick kiss, such as when speaking to children or in very casual settings. On the other end of the spectrum, 亲嘴 is considered a colloquial expression.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 吻 can function as both a noun and a verb. The verb 接吻 is used specifically for the reciprocal action of two people kissing. Other forms like 亲 and 亲吻 can also be used as verbs meaning to touch with the lips.
How do you pronounce it?
wěn (/wən²¹⁴/)
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, the single syllable 亲 (qīn) is used as a friendly, cute term of endearment similar to 'dear' or 'honey' when shopping online.
- The character 亲 originally evolved from a depiction of a chisel, which was later stylized into its current form.
- In traditional Chinese culture, public displays of affection like 接吻 were historically rare and often avoided in social settings.
Examples in context
- 吻我，你个白痴！Kiss me, you fool!This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb 吻 in an imperative command.Tatoeba #4517843 by yuiyu, translation #4471210 by DarkHollow
- 一等奖是公主的香吻。The grand prize is a kiss from the princess.This sentence uses the noun 吻 to describe a kiss from a character.Tatoeba #2027950 by ydcok, translation #2038382 by JarHead54321
- 他告诉我他没有吻她。He told me he didn't kiss her.This sentence uses the verb 吻 to describe a past action.Tatoeba #8688124 by slo_oth, translation #8515350 by CH
- 我想亲吻你I want to kiss you
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are reminiscing about their first date.
- 雨婷 Yuting你还记得我们的第一个吻吗？Nǐ hái jìdé wǒmen de dì yī gè wěn ma?Do you still remember our first kiss?
- 志强 Zhiqiang当然记得，雨婷。Dāngrán jìdé, Yǔtíng.Of course I remember, Yuting.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，那天真的很浪漫。Zhìqiáng, nèitiān zhēn de hěn làngmàn.Zhiqiang, that day was truly romantic.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我也觉得很美好。Wǒ yě juédé hěn měihǎo.I also thought it was wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiss” translations and entries 吻, 接吻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 吻, 親, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
