How to Say "boyfriend / girlfriend" in Chinese
Learn how to say boyfriend and girlfriend in Chinese — the words, how to introduce your partner, relationship terms, and the cultural context around dating in China.
Quick Answer
nán péng yǒu / nǚ péng yǒu
Tone: 2nd–2nd–3rd
The Chinese word for "boyfriend / girlfriend" is 男朋友 / 女朋友 (nán péng yǒu / nǚ péng yǒu).
Quick Answer
- Boyfriend = 男朋友 (nán péng yǒu) — literally “male friend”
- Girlfriend = 女朋友 (nǚ péng yǒu) — literally “female friend”
How to Pronounce
Both follow the same pattern: [gender] + 朋友 (péng yǒu = friend)
- 男 (nán) — 2nd tone: rising
- 女 (nǚ) — 3rd tone: dipping (the ü sound — round lips as if saying “oo,” then say “ee”)
- 朋 (péng) — 2nd tone: rising
- 友 (yǒu) — 3rd tone: dipping
Relationship Terms
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 男朋友 | nán péng yǒu | Boyfriend |
| 女朋友 | nǚ péng yǒu | Girlfriend |
| 老公 | lǎo gōng | Husband (also used as a pet name in relationships) |
| 老婆 | lǎo pó | Wife (also used as a pet name in relationships) |
| 未婚夫 | wèi hūn fū | Fiancé |
| 未婚妻 | wèi hūn qī | Fiancée |
| 前男友 | qián nán yǒu | Ex-boyfriend |
| 前女友 | qián nǚ yǒu | Ex-girlfriend |
| 暗恋 | àn liàn | Secret crush (unrequited love) |
Introducing Your Partner
这是我男朋友，他叫 [Name]。— Zhè shì wǒ nán péng yǒu, tā jiào [Name]. — This is my boyfriend, his name is [Name].
这是我女朋友。— Zhè shì wǒ nǚ péng yǒu. — This is my girlfriend.
Asking About Relationship Status
你有男/女朋友吗？— Nǐ yǒu nán/nǚ péng yǒu ma? — Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Common responses:
- 有！(Yǒu!) — Yes, I do!
- 没有，单身。(Méi yǒu, dān shēn.) — No, I’m single.
- 在找呢。(Zài zhǎo ne.) — Still looking.
老公 / 老婆 Culture
Chinese couples — even before marriage — often call each other 老公 (lǎo gōng) and 老婆 (lǎo pó), which technically mean husband and wife. This is affectionate, not a legal claim. If a Chinese girlfriend calls her boyfriend 老公 in conversation, it signals a serious, committed relationship.
Cultural Context
Dating culture in China has shifted dramatically in the last decade. Urban young people date much like their Western counterparts — apps, coffee dates, mutual interests. Rural and small-city dating still involves more family matchmaking (相亲 xiāng qīn) — formal introductions arranged by parents.
Coming out: LGBTQ+ relationships are not legally recognized in China, and same-sex couples face varying degrees of family and social pressure. The visibility and acceptance of same-sex couples is growing in major cities.
Practice
Introduce your (real or imaginary) partner:
这是我的男/女朋友，他/她叫 ___。很高兴认识你！ This is my boyfriend/girlfriend, his/her name is ___. Nice to meet you!
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