Dating & Romance
intermediate约会恋爱
Express your feelings, navigate Chinese dating culture, talk about relationships, and learn the vocabulary of love and romance in Mandarin.
38 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
38 words — click any row for an example sentence
Dating
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 约会 | yuēhuì | date; to go on a date | noun |
| 表白 | biǎobái | to confess one's feelings; to declare love | verb |
| 男朋友 | nánpéngyou | boyfriend | noun |
| 女朋友 | nǚpéngyou | girlfriend | noun |
| 暧昧 | àimèi | ambiguous; flirtatious (undefined relationship) | adjective |
| 在一起 | zài yīqǐ | to be together (as a couple) | verb |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | to break up | verb |
| 单身 | dānshēn | single (unmarried) | adjective |
| 相亲 | xiāngqīn | blind date (arranged by family/friends) | noun |
| 追 | zhuī | to pursue; to chase (romantically) | verb |
Feelings
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 喜欢 | xǐhuān | to like | verb |
| 爱 | ài | to love; love | verb |
| 想念 | xiǎngniàn | to miss (someone) | verb |
| 心动 | xīndòng | heart flutter; to feel attracted to | verb |
| 感动 | gǎndòng | to be moved; touched (emotionally) | verb |
| 甜蜜 | tiánmì | sweet; honey-like (of a relationship) | adjective |
| 浪漫 | làngmàn | romantic | adjective |
| 吃醋 | chīcù | to be jealous (in a romantic context) | verb |
| 初恋 | chūliàn | first love | noun |
Compliments
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | beautiful; pretty | adjective |
| 帅 | shuài | handsome | adjective |
| 温柔 | wēnróu | gentle; tender | adjective |
| 体贴 | tǐtiē | considerate; thoughtful | adjective |
| 可爱 | kě'ài | cute; adorable | adjective |
Date Activities
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 看电影 | kàn diànyǐng | to watch a movie | verb |
| 吃饭 | chīfàn | to eat; to have a meal | verb |
| 散步 | sànbù | to take a walk; to stroll | verb |
| 送花 | sòng huā | to give flowers | verb |
| 送礼物 | sòng lǐwù | to give a gift | verb |
| 情人节 | Qíngrén jié | Valentine's Day | noun |
| 牵手 | qiānshǒu | to hold hands | verb |
Relationship Status
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 恋爱 | liàn'ài | romantic love; to be in a relationship | noun |
| 异地恋 | yìdìliàn | long-distance relationship | noun |
| 求婚 | qiúhūn | to propose (marriage) | verb |
| 订婚 | dìnghūn | to get engaged | verb |
| 幸福 | xìngfú | happiness; blessed; happy (in life/love) | adjective |
| 缘分 | yuánfèn | fate; destiny (that brings people together) | noun |
| 网恋 | wǎngliàn | online relationship; internet dating | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
我喜欢你。
Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ.
I like you.
The most basic way to express romantic interest, often used in a 表白 (confession of feelings).
我们在一起吧。
Wǒmen zài yīqǐ ba.
Let us be together.
The standard way to ask someone to become your boyfriend or girlfriend.
你愿意做我的女朋友/男朋友吗？
Nǐ yuànyì zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyou / nánpéngyou ma?
Will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend?
A direct and formal way to ask someone out.
我对你有感觉。
Wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎnjué.
I have feelings for you.
A softer way to express interest without saying "I love you."
我们分手吧。
Wǒmen fēnshǒu ba.
Let us break up.
The direct way to end a romantic relationship.
你是我见过最漂亮的女生。
Nǐ shì wǒ jiàn guò zuì piàoliang de nǚshēng.
You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
A compliment used in romantic contexts.
我想你了。
Wǒ xiǎng nǐ le.
I miss you.
A common expression between couples, especially in long-distance relationships.
这是缘分。
Zhè shì yuánfèn.
This is fate / It was meant to be.
A romantic expression about how destiny brought two people together.
你吃醋了？
Nǐ chīcù le?
Are you jealous?
A teasing question asked when a partner shows signs of jealousy.
嫁给我好吗？
Jià gěi wǒ hǎo ma?
Will you marry me? (said to a woman)
A marriage proposal. 嫁 specifically means for a woman to marry.
我们合适吗？
Wǒmen héshì ma?
Are we compatible?
A question often discussed in relationships, especially after blind dates.
有你真好。
Yǒu nǐ zhēn hǎo.
Having you is wonderful.
An expression of gratitude and happiness directed at a romantic partner.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Confessing Feelings
Xiao Zhang has liked his classmate Xiao Lin for a long time. He decides to confess his feelings after class.
Speaker A
小林，你有时间吗？我想跟你说一件事。
Speaker B
什么事？你说吧。
Speaker A
我们认识快一年了，这段时间我一直很开心。其实……我喜欢你，不只是当朋友。
Speaker B
真的吗？我没想到你会跟我说这些。
Speaker A
我知道这可能有点突然，但我不想一直隐藏自己的感觉。你愿意做我的女朋友吗？
Speaker B
让我想一想好吗？我需要一点时间。
Speaker A
当然可以，不着急。不管你怎么决定，我都尊重你。
Speaker B
谢谢你告诉我。其实，我对你也有感觉。我愿意试试看。
Cultural note: In Chinese dating culture, the 表白 (biǎobái, confession of feelings) is a significant step. Unlike in some Western cultures where dating begins casually, in China, a formal confession often marks the official start of a relationship. The response "让我想一想" (let me think about it) is very common and does not necessarily mean rejection.
A Blind Date Arranged by Parents
Xiao Li's mother has arranged a blind date (相亲) for her. She meets the young man, Xiao Chen, at a coffee shop.
Speaker A
你好，你是小陈吧？我是小李，我妈妈跟你妈妈说好的。
Speaker B
你好小李！坐吧。说实话，这是我第一次相亲，有点紧张。
Speaker A
我也是，哈哈。我妈一直催我找对象，所以就来了。你呢？
Speaker B
一样，家里催得厉害。不过既然来了，我们就轻松聊聊吧。你平时喜欢做什么？
Speaker A
我喜欢旅游和看电影。你呢？
Speaker B
我也喜欢看电影！我们挺合适的嘛。下次一起去看一场电影？
Speaker A
好啊，可以。不过我们先慢慢了解吧，不着急。
Speaker B
当然！先加个微信吧，以后方便联系。
Cultural note: Blind dates (相亲 xiāngqīn) are a major part of Chinese dating culture. Parents, especially mothers, actively help their children find partners, particularly when they feel their child is getting older without a relationship. In some cities, there are even "marriage markets" in parks where parents display their children's profiles. While younger generations may feel pressured, many are open to the process.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Dating & Romance Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
20 of 38 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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