Chinese Relationship Phrases

Your people

The everyday circle — friends, the best friend, and the people you share a desk or a classroom with.

1. 1 朋友 péng yǒu — Friend
2. 2 最好的朋友 zuì hǎo de péng yǒu — Best friend
3. 3 同事 tóng shì — Colleague
4. 4 同学 tóng xué — Classmate

Dating and partners

男朋友 and 女朋友 are literally 'male friend' and 'female friend' — but they always mean romance. A plain friend is just 朋友, no gender attached.

1. 5 男朋友 nán péng yǒu — Boyfriend
2. 6 女朋友 nǚ péng yǒu — Girlfriend
3. 7 伴侣 bàn lǚ — Partner

   Gender-neutral — the word for a life companion.

4. 8 他有女朋友吗？ tā yǒu nǚ péng yǒu ma — Does he have a girlfriend?

Single or taken

Relationship status is completely normal small talk in China. Expect these questions early — from new colleagues, taxi drivers and somebody's grandmother.

1. 9 我是单身。 wǒ shì dān shēn — I'm single
2. 10 你结婚了吗？ nǐ jié hūn le ma — Are you married?
3. 11 他们订婚了！ tā men dìng hūn le — They got engaged!

Saying how you feel

From the standard confession to the long-distance classic. Chinese tends to understate big feelings, which makes each of these land harder.

1. 12 我喜欢你。 wǒ xǐ huān nǐ — I like you
2. 13 我爱你。 wǒ ài nǐ — I love you
3. 14 我很想念你。 wǒ hěn xiǎng niàn nǐ — I miss you very much
4. 15 你会想念我吗？ nǐ huì xiǎng niàn wǒ ma — Will you miss me?

In real life: a friend plays matchmaker