追求
zhuīqiú
To woo in Chinese is 追求 (zhuīqiú). Wiktionary also lists 求愛 / 求爱 (qiú'ài).
Meaning: to endeavor to gain someone's affection/support (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 追求 | zhuīqiú |
| 求愛 / 求爱 | qiú'ài |
The verb 追求 is used to describe the act of endeavoring to gain someone's affection or support. When using 追求 to mean wooing someone, it is often used with a person as the direct object, e.g., 追求她 (pursue her).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 追求 consists of 追 (to chase) and 求 (to seek/demand).
Which one should you use?
追求 is a broader term that can mean pursuing a romantic partner, a dream or an ideal. In contrast, 求愛 / 求爱 is more specific to romantic courtship.
How do you pronounce it?
zhuīqiú
Did you know?
- The word 求愛 (qiú'ài) literally translates to 'begging for love', which sounds much more desperate in English than the romantic connotation of 'woo'.
- In many Chinese contexts, the concept of 'pursuing' someone is often viewed as a proactive and necessary demonstration of sincerity rather than mere flirtation.
- The word 追求 is used for both romantic wooing and the pursuit of 'truth' (追求真理) or 'perfection' (追求完美), treating a lover and a philosophical goal with the same linguistic urgency.
Examples in context
- 喔！真是太好了！Wow! That's great!
- 哇！这个礼物真的太棒了！Wow! This gift is really fantastic!
- 诶呦，这个小狗好可爱啊！Oh, this puppy is so adorable!
- 喔，太棒了!Wow, fantastic!
- 他一直在追求她。Tā yīzhí zài zhuīqiú tā.He has been pursuing her all this time.
- 我不打算追求她。Wǒ bù dǎsuàn zhuīqiú tā.I don't plan on wooing her.
- 他成功追求到了那个女孩。Tā chénggōng zhuīqiú dào le nàge nǚhái.He successfully won the girl's affection.
Example conversation
Wei and Yu Ting are talking about a mutual friend's crush.
- 伟 Wei你在追求那个女生吗？Nǐ zài zhuīqiú nàge nǚshēng ma?Are you pursuing that girl?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，我想追求她。Shì de, wǒ xiǎng zhuīqiú tā.Yes, I want to woo her.
- 伟 Wei祝你成功。Zhù nǐ chénggōng.I wish you success.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢，我会努力的。Xièxiè, wǒ huì nǔlì de.Thanks, I will work hard at it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woo” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
