想你
xiǎng nǐ
The English phrase "miss you" is translated into Chinese as 想你 (xiǎng nǐ).
This phrase is used to express that you feel sadness because someone is not with you. In casual conversation, the subject is often omitted if the context is clear, though adding the subject makes the sentence more complete. Note that while the verb 想 can mean "to want" or "to desire" in other contexts, when it is followed directly by a person, it primarily means "to miss".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 想你 breaks down into 想 (xiǎng), which means "to think" or "to miss" and 你 (nǐ), which means "you".
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to be more formal or literary, you can use 想念你.
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎng nǐ
Did you know?
- The character 想 originally depicted a heart under a head, combining the concepts of cognitive thinking and emotional feeling.
- While English speakers often say 'I miss you' as a greeting or goodbye, Chinese speakers may use it more sparingly to avoid appearing overly sentimental.
- The formal version 想念 is frequently used in songs and poetry to describe a longing for a homeland or a deceased loved one, whereas 想你 is rarely used for the dead.
Examples in context
- 我也会想你的。I'm going to miss you, too.This sentence shows how to express that you will miss the person as well using 想你.Tatoeba #9970090 by GlossaMatik, translation #1841635 by CK
- 我真的真的很想你。I really miss you a lot.This sentence demonstrates how to emphasize that you really miss someone using 想你.Tatoeba #12475708 by a15997853561, translation #1742458 by belgavox
- 我非常想你。I miss you badly.This sentence shows how to express missing someone very much using 想你.Tatoeba #444654 by fucongcong, translation #18051 by Zifre
- 老师，我想念您的教诲。Teacher, I miss your teachings.
- 领导，您在我心中，我非常想念您。Leader, you are in my heart, and I miss you deeply.
- 好久不见了，我想你了！Long time no see, I miss you!
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A video call between a long-distance couple.
- 俊杰 Junjie我好想你。Wǒ hǎo xiǎng nǐ.I miss you so much.
- 雨婷 Yuting我也很想你。Wǒ yě hěn xiǎng nǐ.I miss you too.
- 俊杰 Junjie你想不想我？Nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng wǒ?Do you miss me?
- 雨婷 Yuting当然想你了。Dāngrán xiǎng nǐ le.Of course I miss you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
