Love in Chinese
The Chinese word for "love" is 爱 (ài). English 'love' covers both 爱 and 喜欢: 爱 is deep love for people, country or life, while 喜欢 is the everyday word for liking food, hobbies and things.
Chinese words for love
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爱 | ài | love | The default answer. |
| 喜欢 | xǐ huan | to like, to be fond of | Everyday liking of food, music, hobbies, places, and early romantic interest. |
| 爱情 | ài qíng | romantic love | A noun for love between partners, as in songs, films and stories; never family love. |
| 恋爱 | liàn ài | being in love, a romantic relationship | Dating and relationships, mostly in 谈恋爱, to be in a relationship. |
| 热爱 | rè ài | to love passionately | Ardent love for work, life, a country or a sport; sounds formal and earnest. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我爱你。 | wǒ ài nǐ. | I love you. |
| 我很喜欢吃饺子。 | wǒ hěn xǐ huan chī jiǎo zi. | I really like dumplings. |
| 他们在谈恋爱。 | tā men zài tán liàn ài. | They are going out together. |
| 她热爱自己的工作。 | tā rè ài zì jǐ de gōng zuò. | She loves her job. |
| 妈妈很爱我们。 | mā ma hěn ài wǒ men. | Mom loves us very much. |
The characters in 爱
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 爱 | ài | love, to love. The traditional form 愛 has 心 (heart) in the middle; the simplified form puts 友 (friend) there instead. |
Common mistakes
- For food, films or hobbies, 'I love it' is usually 我很喜欢; 我爱你 is reserved for partners and family and is said far less often than English 'I love you'.
- 爱情 is only romantic love. Love between parents and children is 亲情, and love between friends is 友情.
- To be in a relationship is 谈恋爱, literally 'talk love'; 做恋爱 is not Chinese.
- 爱 plus a verb often means 'tend to, like to': 他爱哭 means he cries easily, not that he loves crying.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say love in Chinese?
爱 (ài). Other ways: 喜欢 (xǐ huan); 爱情 (ài qíng); 恋爱 (liàn ài).
How do you say 'I love you' in Chinese?
我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ). Many couples say it rarely and show it in actions instead, and 我喜欢你 (I like you) is the usual way to confess a crush.
What is the difference between 爱 and 喜欢?
喜欢 is liking: food, music, a person you are attracted to. 爱 is stronger and deeper, the word for partners, family and things you are devoted to.
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