请保留日期
qǐng bǎoliú rìqī
The Chinese phrase for 'save the date' is 请保留日期 (qǐng bǎoliú rìqī).
This phrase is used to request that guests keep a specific day free for a future event. If you are specifically reminding friends or family about an upcoming dinner party, you might say 别忘了这个日期 instead.
Which one should you use?
While 请保留日期 is a standard way to express the idea, you may encounter other variations. 预留日期 is used to mean 'reserve the date' in more professional or formal contexts. Additionally, 请预留时间 is a formal way to say 'Please reserve the time'.
How do you pronounce it?
qǐng bǎoliú rìqī
Did you know?
- When scheduling dates for auspicious events like weddings, many people consult a lunar calendar or a feng shui master. This makes the 'date' in 请保留日期 much more than a calendar choice, but a spiritual requirement.
- While 请保留日期 is the standard translation, modern Chinese couples often skip the Chinese entirely. They frequently use the English phrase 'Save the Date' on digital invitations to signal that their wedding is international and trendy.
- The character in 日期 for 'date' is 日, which is also the word for 'sun'. In many traditional contexts, certain 'dates' are chosen based on the position of the sun and moon to ensure harmony.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about an upcoming celebration.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你的庆祝活动在什么时候？Jùnjié, nǐ de qìngzhù huódòng zài shénme shíhou?Junjie, when is your celebration?
- 俊杰 Junjie在十二月十五号，请保留日期。Zài shí'èr yuè shíwǔ hào, qǐng bǎoliú rìqī.It's on December 15th, please save the date.
- 梓涵 Zihan没问题，梓涵一定会参加的。Méi wèntí, Zǐhán yīdìng huì cānjiā de.No problem, Zihan will definitely attend.
- 俊杰 Junjie太好了，到时候见！Tài hǎo le, dào shíhou jiàn!Great, see you then!
