“I love you” in Chinese ranges from bold movie-confession lines to everyday warmth you’ll hear at breakfast. This guide focuses on Traditional Chinese with pinyin right after and a clear English gloss. You’ll get romantic, cute, and family-friendly options, Taiwan texting slang (520), and natural ways to say the feeling without saying the words.
The Classic Core
我愛你
wǒ ài nǐ
I love you.
Direct and powerful. In Taiwan, this can feel serious; use it when you really mean it.
我很愛你
wǒ hěn ài nǐ
I love you very much.
Adds intensity without sounding over-the-top.
我真的愛你
wǒ zhēn de ài nǐ
I truly love you.
Earnest, heartfelt.
愛你
ài nǐ
Love you.
Casual, text-friendly; often with a particle: 愛你喔／愛你呀.
Softer, Early-Stage, Or Shy Confessions
我喜歡你
wǒ xǐ huān nǐ
I like you. (Romantic interest.)
我很喜歡你
wǒ hěn xǐ huān nǐ
I really like you.
Common and safe before “love.”
我對你有感覺
wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎn jué
I have feelings for you.
跟你在一起，我很開心
gēn nǐ zài yì qǐ, wǒ hěn kāi xīn
I’m happy when I’m with you.
有你真好
yǒu nǐ zhēn hǎo
It’s really nice having you.
你對我很重要
nǐ duì wǒ hěn zhòng yào
You’re important to me.
Cute, Playful, And Flirty
超愛你
chāo ài nǐ
Love you soo much.
愛死你了
ài sǐ nǐ le
Love you to death. (Playful exaggeration.)
你是我的菜
nǐ shì wǒ de cài
You’re my type. (Literally “my dish.”)
被你融化了
bèi nǐ róng huà le
You melted me.
想你想到不行
xiǎng nǐ xiǎng dào bù xíng
I miss you like crazy.
小可愛
xiǎo kě ài
Cutie. (As a nickname or add-on.)
寶貝／北鼻
bǎo bèi / bèi bí
Baby / babe. (“北鼻” is a playful phonetic loan.)
Warmth For Family And Close Friends
媽媽，我愛你
mā mā, wǒ ài nǐ
Mom, I love you.
爸爸，我愛你
bà ba, wǒ ài nǐ
Dad, I love you.
愛你喔
ài nǐ o
Love you (soft, affectionate; works with family/friends).
最愛你們
zuì ài nǐ men
Love you all the most.
辛苦了，我愛你
xīn kǔ le, wǒ ài nǐ
You’ve worked so hard—love you. (Thanks + love.)
Polite, Poetic, Or Formal-Flavored Romance
我傾心於你
wǒ qīng xīn yú nǐ
I’m deeply in love with you.
我心悅於你
wǒ xīn yuè yú nǐ
My heart delights in you. (Literary.)
我對你一見鍾情
wǒ duì nǐ yí jiàn zhōng qíng
Love at first sight.
此生願與你相守
cǐ shēng yuàn yǔ nǐ xiāng shǒu
I wish to be with you for life.
你是我的唯一
nǐ shì wǒ de wéi yī
You’re my one and only.
Commitment And Relationship Labels
你願意跟我在一起嗎？
nǐ yuàn yì gēn wǒ zài yì qǐ ma
Will you be with me?
妳願意嫁給我嗎？
nǐ yuàn yì jià gěi wǒ ma
Will you marry me? (to a woman; 妳 for “you” addressing a woman)
你願意跟我結婚嗎？
nǐ yuàn yì gēn wǒ jié hūn ma
Will you marry me? (gender-neutral phrasing)
另一半／伴侶
lìng yí bàn / bàn lǚ
Other half / partner. (Inclusive terms.)
Indirect “Acts Of Service” Love (Very Taiwanese)
我幫你買早餐
wǒ bāng nǐ mǎi zǎo cān
I bought you breakfast. (I care.)
天氣變冷，記得多穿一點
tiān qì biàn lěng, jì dé duō chuān yì diǎn
It’s getting cold—dress warm. (I’m thinking of you.)
到家跟我說
dào jiā gēn wǒ shuō
Text me when you get home. (I worry about you.)
我載你
wǒ zài nǐ
I’ll give you a ride. (I’ve got you.)
這些行動句在華語文化裡經常比「我愛你」更常見——溫柔的關心就是愛。
Nicknames And Terms Of Endearment
親愛的
qīn ài de
Dear / darling.
寶貝／寶寶
bǎo bèi / bǎo bǎo
Baby / babe.
老婆／老公
lǎo pó / lǎo gōng
Wife / husband. (Common between couples, even before marriage in casual speech.)
女朋友／男朋友
nǚ péng yǒu / nán péng yǒu
Girlfriend / boyfriend.
我的太陽／我的月亮
wǒ de tài yáng / wǒ de yuè liàng
My sun / my moon. (Sweet, poetic.)
Texting, Particles, And Numbers
520
wǔ èr líng
“I love you” (sounds like 我愛你).
1314
yī sān yī sì
“For a lifetime.” Often paired: 520 1314 = I love you for life.
愛你喔／愛你唷
ài nǐ o / ài nǐ yo
Love you~ (soft, cute tone).
愛妳
ài nǐ
Love you (written to a woman; 妳 is the female “you” used in Taiwan).
我愛你啦
wǒ ài nǐ la
I love you (with “啦” for warmth/emphasis).
想你ing
xiǎng nǐ ing
“Missing you + -ing” (Chinglish-style cute).
Saying “I Love You” Without The Words
我想你
wǒ xiǎng nǐ
I miss you.
我離不開你
wǒ lí bù kāi nǐ
I can’t be without you.
你在我心裡
nǐ zài wǒ xīn lǐ
You’re in my heart.
你讓我覺得很安心
nǐ ràng wǒ jué dé hěn ān xīn
You make me feel safe.
我會一直在
wǒ huì yì zhí zài
I’ll always be here.
Mini Dialogues (Natural And Reusable)
A：今天好冷。
A: jīn tiān hǎo lěng
A: It’s really cold today.
B：外套幫你準備好了。到家跟我說。
B: wài tào bāng nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo le. dào jiā gēn wǒ shuō
B: Your coat’s ready. Tell me when you get home.
A：你對我最好了。
A: nǐ duì wǒ zuì hǎo le
A: You’re the sweetest to me.
B：因為我愛你呀。
B: yīn wèi wǒ ài nǐ ya
B: Because I love you.
—
A：我有話想跟你說。
A: wǒ yǒu huà xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō
A: I have something to tell you.
B：我也是。你先。
B: wǒ yě shì. nǐ xiān
B: Me too. You first.
A：我很喜歡你，想更認真在一起。
A: wǒ hěn xǐ huān nǐ, xiǎng gèng rèn zhēn zài yì qǐ
A: I really like you and want to be serious together.
B：我也一樣。
B: wǒ yě yí yàng
B: Same here.
Card & Message Lines (Copy-Ready)
情人節快樂，謝謝你一直在我身邊。
qíng rén jié kuài lè, xiè xiè nǐ yì zhí zài wǒ shēn biān
Happy Valentine’s Day—thank you for always being by my side.
因為有你，我的世界更完整。
yīn wèi yǒu nǐ, wǒ de shì jiè gèng wán zhěng
Because of you, my world feels complete.
今天也要被你可愛到。
jīn tiān yě yào bèi nǐ kě ài dào
I plan to be defeated by your cuteness again today.
我們一起，一直到很久很久以後。
wǒ men yì qǐ, yí zhí dào hěn jiǔ hěn jiǔ yǐ hòu
Let’s be together for a very, very long time.
Pronunciation Tips (Fast Wins)
愛 ài：第四聲，乾淨下落；不要拖長。
喜 xǐ：第三聲短降再起；別變平。
喜歡 xǐ huān：xǐ 第三聲、huān 第一聲；連讀保持節奏。
妳 nǐ（female “you”）：跟 你 nǐ 同音，台灣書寫常用來對女性表親暱。
喔／呀／啦：句尾小粒子讓語氣更柔和或俏皮，音量要輕。
Cultural Notes (Taiwan Focus)
- 「我愛你」在台灣通常比較重，日常更常聽到「我很喜歡你」「有你真好」「你對我很重要」。
- 行動就是愛：買早餐、接送、提醒保暖、等你到家訊息。學會那些句子，等於學會在地示愛。
- 書寫可用「愛妳」對女性，更顯貼心；正式文件仍多用 「你」。
- 520、1314、愛你喔 這些文字遊戲在社群與訊息裡非常普遍。
Practice Plan（Five Honest Minutes）
Say three versions from light to strong: 我喜歡你 → 我很喜歡你 → 我愛你（加一個句尾粒子喔／呀／啦）。
Record a 20-second voice note using兩句間接示愛：到家跟我說、我幫你買早餐。
Text one short line with a number code（520）＋一句暖心話（你對我很重要）。
Write a card line for a real person using their暱稱＋一句承諾句（我會一直在）。
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Love in Chinese isn’t just three characters—it’s tone, timing, and tiny acts of care. Keep a few big lines for the big moments, sprinkle daily warmth like “到家跟我說,” and your Traditional Chinese “I love you” will sound natural, local, and beautifully yours.