How to Say “I miss you” in Chinese
Feelings and opinions · HSK 3
"I miss you" in Chinese is 我想你 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ). 想 is a chameleon verb; it means 'to think', 'to want', and 'to miss' depending on context. 我想你 on its own means 'I miss you', but 我想你去 means 'I want you to go' and 我想你是对的 means 'I think you're right'.
Primary translation
我想你
wǒ xiǎng nǐ
When to use it
想 is a chameleon verb; it means 'to think', 'to want', and 'to miss' depending on context. 我想你 on its own means 'I miss you', but 我想你去 means 'I want you to go' and 我想你是对的 means 'I think you're right'. Context and what follows 想 do the work. To make it stronger, Chinese speakers add 很 or 好: 我很想你 (I miss you a lot) is more common in speech than the bare 我想你, which can sound flat or even abrupt in a text. Between friends, 想你了 with the 了 particle carries a soft, affectionate tone; like 'been missing you lately'.
Example sentences
我很想你，你什么时候回来？
Wǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ, nǐ shénme shíhou huílái?
I miss you so much; when are you coming back?
好久不见，想你了。
Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn, xiǎng nǐ le.
Long time no see, I've been missing you.
妈妈说她很想我。
Māma shuō tā hěn xiǎng wǒ.
Mom said she misses me a lot.