The most common way to say "I love you" in Chinese is "wǒ ài nǐ", but this sentence is translated differently in the various dialects. In addition, there are many other ways to express feelings in Standard Chinese. Read on to learn some of these expressions.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: "I love you" in the Different Dialects
Step 1. Say "wǒ ài nǐ" in Mandarin or Standard Chinese
This is the most common way to tell someone "I love you" in Chinese.
- Standard Chinese and Mandarin are essentially the same language. Mandarin has more native speakers than the other dialects, and is spoken in the north and southwest of the country.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 爱 你。
- Say the sentence like this: wohah AI ni.
Step 2. Say "ngóh oi néih" in Cantonese
If you are speaking or writing to someone who speaks Cantonese, this is the right way to say "I love you".
- Cantonese is another very common dialect spoken in southern China. Many people also speak Cantonese in Hong Kong and Macau.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 愛 你。
- Pronounce the sentence like this: na (wh) OI nay.
Step 3. Say "ngai oi ngi" in Chinese hakka
For those who speak the hakka dialect you should use this phrase to say "I love you", instead of using the standard Chinese one.
- Hakka Chinese is only spoken by Han Chinese who live in provincial areas of China, including Hunan, Fujian, Sichuan, Guangxi, Jianxi, and Guangdong. It is also spoken in parts of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Using traditional Chinese characters, this expression is written? 愛 你。
- Say the sentence like this: nai OI ni.
Step 4. Say "nguh eh non" in Shanghai or wu
People who speak Shanghai use this expression to say "I love you".
- Shanghai is a dialect spoken only in Shanghai and surrounding areas.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 侬 爱 你。
- Pronounce the sentence like this: nuhn EH nohn.
Step 5. Say "góa ài there" in Taiwanese
This is the correct way to say "I love you" to a person who speaks the Taiwanese dialect.
- Taiwanese is spoken in Taiwan by around 70% of the population.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 愛 你。
- Say the sentence like this: gwah AI li.
Part 2 of 3: Other Formulas for Expressing Love in Chinese
Step 1. Simply say "gēn nǐ zài yīqǐ de shíhou hǎo kāixīn"
More or less the Italian translation would be: "When I am with you I am very happy".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 跟 你 在一起 的 时候 好 开心。
- Say the sentence like this: geuh nehi sz-AII chi day shiHOW how kAI-zhin.
Step 2. To indicate a great affection of’" wǒ duìnǐ gǎnxìngqu"
More or less the Italian translation is “I'm in love with you”.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 对 你 感兴趣。
- Say the sentence like this: wohah duOI-ni gahn-SHIN-szu.
Step 3. Say "wǒ hěn xǐhuān nǐ"
This phrase means "I like you very much".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 很 喜欢 你。
- Pronounce the sentence like this: woha hhuEN szi-WAHN ni.
Step 4. Bring out stronger feelings with the phrase “wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān nǐ”, which means “I really like you very much”
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 非常 喜欢 你。
- Pronounce the sentence like this: wohah fAY-chaahng szi-HWAN ni.
Step 5. When you fell in love with someone by '"wǒ ài shàng nǐ le"
More or less the Italian translation is "I fell in love with you".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 爱上 你 了。
- Say the sentence like this: wohah AI shaowng ni-lah.
Step 6. Say to someone special "wǒ de xīn lǐ zhǐyǒu nǐ"
This phrase means "You are the only one in my heart".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 我 的 心里 只有 你。
- Say the sentence like this: wohah day ZHIN li chi-yo-u ni.
Step 7. Let your love know:
“Nǐ shì dì yī gè ràng wǒ rúcǐ xīndòng de rén”. This phrase is used to say: "You are the first person who makes me feel this way".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 你 是 第 一个 让 我 如此 心动 的 人。
- Say the sentence like this: ni SHi by yi geh rahng woh rutzeh chin-dohn day rehn.
Step 8. Declare “nǐ tōuzǒule wǒ de xīn”
The Italian equivalent of this phrase is "You stole my heart".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 你 偷走 了 我 的 心。
- Say the sentence like this: ni TAOW-zaow woh day zhin.
Part 3 of 3: Promises and Compliments in Standard Chinese
Step 1. Promise “wǒ huì yīzhí péi zài nǐ shēnbiān”
This phrase means "I will always be by your side".
- Using traditional Chinese characters, this expression is written 我 会 一直 陪 在 你 身边。
- Say the sentence like this: wohah hway I-chay pay zai ni shen-PE-ehn.
Step 2. Indicates a commitment to life like this:
“Ràng wǒmen yīqǐ mànman biàn lǎo”. The Italian equivalent of this phrase is more or less “Let's grow old together”.
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 让 我们 一起 慢慢 变 老。
- Say the sentence like this: rhan woh-mehn i-chi MAHN-mahn biahn lahow.
Step 3. Compliment the smile of the person you love by saying “nǐ de xiàoróng ràng wǒ zháomí”
The Italian equivalent of this phrase is roughly "Your smile hypnotizes me".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 你 的 笑容 让 我 着迷。
- Say the sentence like this: ni day ZAOW-rohng rahng woh chao-mi.
Step 4. Let your loved one know that “nǐ zài wǒ yǎn lǐ shì zuì měi de”
Use this expression to say: "In my eyes you are the most beautiful person there is".
- Using traditional Chinese characters this expression is written 你 在 我 眼里 是 最美 的。
- Say the sentence like this: ni ZAI woh yahn li shi zoo-I may dah.
