Looking to ask someone out on a date or declare your love in Chinese? We've compiled a bunch of conversational Mandarin phrases to help you flirt, say 'I love you' and more. We've even thrown in a few corny pickup lines for good measure.
Warning: serious cheesiness ahead.
Compliments
Beautiful.
美女.
Měinǚ.
Handsome.
帅哥.
Shuàigē.
You’re so handsome.
你太帅了.
Nǐ tài shuàile.
You’re so pretty/beautiful.
你太漂亮了.
Nǐ tài piàoliangle.
You’re really pretty!
你真的很漂亮.
Nǐ zhēn de hěn piàoliang.
You’re really handsome!
你真的很帅哦!
Nǐ zhēn de hěn shuài ó!
You have a good temperament (AKA “I like your vibe”).
你很有气质.
Nǐ hěn yǒu qìzhí.
You are really something special.
你很特别.
Nǐ hěn tèbié.
I think you are very cute.
我觉得你很可爱.
Wǒ juédé nǐ hěn kě'ài.
You are very cute.
你非常可爱.
Nǐ fēi cháng kě ài.
Your eyes are beautiful.
你的眼睛很美.
Nǐ de yǎn jīng hěn měi.
Getting to Know Someone
What’s your name?
你叫什么名字?
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
Where are you from?
你从哪里来? / 你是哪里人?
Nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái? Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?
What do you do for a living?
你工作是做什么的?
Nǐ gōngzuò shì zuò shénme de?
Do you come here often?
你经常来这里吗?
Nǐ jīngcháng lái zhèlǐ ma?
Can we be friends?
能交个朋友吗?
Néng jiāo gè péngyǒu ma?
What’s your sign/horoscope?
你是什么星座的？
Nǐ shì shénme xīngzuò de?
What’s your Chinese zodiac sign?
你是什么生肖的？
Nǐ shì shénme shēngxiào de?
Are you single?
你是单身吗?
Nǐ shì dānshēn ma?
Do you have a girlfriend?
你有女朋友吗?
Nǐ yǒu nǚ péngyǒu ma?
Do you have a boyfriend?
你有男朋友吗?
Nǐ yǒu nán péngyǒu ma?
Asking Someone Out
Do you have any plans tomorrow night?
你明天晚上有什么安排吗?
Nǐ míngtiān wǎnshàng yǒu shénme ānpái ma?
Let’s go for dinner, my treat.
一起吃饭，我请客.
Yīqǐ chīfàn, wǒ qǐngkè.
Can I treat you to a meal?
请你吃饭好吗? /我可以请你吃饭吗？
Qǐng nǐ chīfàn hǎo ma? / Wǒ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ chīfàn ma?
Can I buy you a drink?
我能请你喝一杯吗？
Wǒ néng qǐng nǐ hē yī bēi ma?
Can I have your phone number?
能给我你的电话号码吗?
Néng gěi wǒ nǐ de diànhuàhàomǎ ma?
Can I have your WeChat?
我可以有你的微信吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ yǒu nǐ de wēi xìn ma?
Would you like to go see a movie with me?
你愿意和我去看电影吗
Nǐ yuànyì hé wǒ qù kàn diànyǐng ma?
Would you like to have dinner with me?
你愿意和我共进晚餐吗?
Nǐ yuànyì hé wǒ gòngjìn wǎncān ma?
Would you like to grab a coffee with me?
你愿意和我喝杯咖啡吗？
Nǐ yuànyì hé wǒ hé bēi kāfēi ma？
Do you want to go to the beach with me?
你想跟我去海滩吗？
Nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ qù hǎitān ma?
Do you want to dance?
你想跳舞吗?
Nǐ xiǎng tiàowǔ ma?
Are you free/available tonight?
你今天晚上有空吗?
Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshàng yǒu kòng ma?
Cheesy Pickup Lines*
I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.
我好像在哪(儿)见过你.
Wǒ hǎoxiàng zài nǎ(er) jiànguò nǐ.
You look just like [insert famous person here]!
你好像xxx啊！
Nǐ hǎoxiàng xxx a!
Are you a model?
你是模特儿吗？
Nǐ shì mótè ér ma?
Would you like to go on a romantic bike ride together?*
要不要一起去骑车?
Yào bù yào yī qǐ qù qí chē?
* Disclaimer: these may elicit some serious blank expressions or even eye rolls.
** If they reply with, "宁在宝马车里哭, 也不在自行车上笑" (níng zài bǎomǎ chē lǐ kū, yě bùzài zìxíngchē shàng xiào - "I'd rather cry in the back of a BMW than smile on a bicycle"), then that's your cue to exit!
Making a Move
Kiss
亲吻
Qīnwěn
I just want to kiss your cheek.
只想亲吻你的脸颊.
Zhǐ xiǎng qīnwěn nǐ de liǎnjiá.
Let me kiss you.
让我亲一下.
Ràng wǒ qīn yīxià.
Can I kiss you?
我想吻你，可以吗？
Wǒ xiǎng wěn nǐ, kěyǐ ma?
Want to come back to my place?
想去我那儿吗?
Xiǎng qù wǒ nàer ma?
Expressing Love or Affection
I have a crush on xxx.
我对xxx有好感.
Wǒ duì xxx yǒu hǎogǎn.
I like you.
我喜欢你.
Wǒ xǐhuān nǐ.
I love you.
我爱你.
Wǒ ài nǐ.
I love you (slang) ***
520/五二零
wǔ èr líng
Do you love me?
你爱我吗
Nǐ ài wǒ ma?
You only belong to me.
你只属于我 .
Nǐ zhǐ shǔyú wǒ.
I only belong to you.
我只属于你.
Wǒ zhǐ shǔyú nǐ.
I want to marry you.
我想娶你 /我想嫁给你
Wǒ xiǎng qǔ nǐ / Wǒ xiǎng jià gěi nǐ.
*** Sounds like ‘I love you’ (in Chinese; 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ).
Terms of Endearment
My dear****.
亲爱的 .
Qīn'ài de.
Baby/Babe.
宝贝.
Bǎobèi.
Husband.
老公.
Lǎogōng.
Wife.
老婆.
Lǎopó.
Little fool (literally “stupid little melon,” generally used for teasing).
小傻瓜.
Xiǎo shǎguā.
**** However, the phrase has become so ubiquitous that people use 亲 to address almost anyone these days.
Miscellaneous
Valentine's Day (Feb 14)
情人节
Qíngrén jié
Chinese Valentine's Day, otherwise known as "Qixi" (seventh day of seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar)
七夕/七夕节
Qīxì / Qīxì jié
Happy Valentine's Day!
情人节快乐！
Qíngrén jié kuàilè!
Happy Qixi Festival!
七夕节快乐
Qīxì kuàilè！
This article was originally published online in August of 2018. It has been republished on February 14, 2019.
[Cover image via Pixabay]
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