How to Say "I love you" in Chinese

The Quick Answer

“I love you” in Chinese is 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).

• 我 (wǒ) — “I / me” — 3rd tone
• 爱 (ài) — “love” — 4th tone (sharp falling)
• 你 (nǐ) — “you” — 3rd tone

How to Pronounce 我爱你

Say it like: “waw EYE knee” — with the middle syllable 爱 landing hard and decisively (it’s 4th tone, the strongest one).

The word order is the same as English: Subject + Verb + Object. Chinese grammar occasionally gifts you this.

When Chinese People Say 我爱你

Here’s the cultural reality: 我爱你 is used far less frequently in China than “I love you” is in English-speaking countries. Chinese romantic culture tends to express love through actions — cooking for someone, being reliable, small sacrifices — rather than verbal declarations.

Saying 我爱你 repeatedly in a relationship can actually feel performative or hollow. Chinese couples more often say:

• 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐ huān nǐ) — “I like you” / “I have feelings for you” — used early in a relationship, more common than 我爱你
• 我想你 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ) — “I miss you” — said frequently and warmly

That said, 我爱你 is absolutely understood and appreciated — especially from a foreigner learning Chinese. Your partner will be touched.

Sweeter Alternatives

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
我喜欢你	wǒ xǐ huān nǐ	I like you (romantic feelings)
我想你	wǒ xiǎng nǐ	I miss you
你是我的一切	nǐ shì wǒ de yī qiē	You are my everything
我爱你胜过一切	wǒ ài nǐ shèng guò yī qiē	I love you more than anything
宝贝	bǎo bèi	Baby / Sweetheart (pet name)
亲爱的	qīn ài de	Dear / Darling

Examples in Sentences

1. 我爱你，永远。 — Wǒ ài nǐ, yǒng yuǎn. — “I love you, forever.”
2. 我从来没有像爱你这样爱过一个人。 — Wǒ cóng lái méi yǒu xiàng ài nǐ zhè yàng ài guò yī gè rén. — “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”
3. 我爱你，我的宝贝。 — Wǒ ài nǐ, wǒ de bǎo bèi. — “I love you, my baby.”

Cultural Context

Chinese Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 七夕 (Qī Xī) — the 7th day of the 7th lunar month — based on a legend of two star-crossed lovers (the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd). It’s a major occasion for expressing affection and for saying 我爱你.

Western Valentine’s Day (February 14) is also popular in modern urban China, especially among younger generations.

Common Mistakes

1. Saying it too often — In a Chinese relationship context, once in a while hits harder than every day.
2. Skipping 我喜欢你 — If you’re in the early stages of dating a Chinese person, 我喜欢你 is more natural and less overwhelming than jumping straight to 我爱你.
3. Wrong tones — 爱 is 4th tone (falling, decisive). Mispronouncing it as a flat or rising tone can cause confusion.

Practice

Say this out loud, slowly then at natural speed:

我爱你。 — Wǒ ài nǐ. — “I love you.”

Now add a name:

我爱你，[Name]。 — Wǒ ài nǐ, [Name]. — “I love you, [Name].”