Terms of endearment in Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese words that used with partners, children and other loved ones.

• 我的爱人 [我的愛人] (wǒ de àirén) = my love (only for romantic partners)
• 我的宝贝 [我的寶貝] (wǒ de bǎobèi) = my treasure (mostly for romantic partners)
• 我的心肝 (wǒ de xīngān) = my heart (mostly for romantic partners, also for your own children)
• 亲爱的 [親愛的] (qīn'ài de) = (my) darling (for romantic partners and your own children - said to males)
• 我的女孩 (wǒ de nǚhái) = my girl, my chick (for romantic partners and your own daughter)
• 我的天使 (wǒ de tiānshǐ) = my angel, my chick (for romantic partners and your own children)
• 甜心 (tiánxīn) = sweetheart

Terms of endearment for girls and women

• 小猪猪 [小豬豬] (xiǎo zhū zhū) = little piggy (for cute girlfriends)
• 老婆 (lǎopó) = wife (used by husbands to their wives)
• 娘子 (niángzǐ) = wife (old fashioned word for wives)

Terms of endearment for boys and men

• 老公 (lǎogōng) = wife (used by wives to their husbands)
• 相公 (xiànggong) = husband (old fashioned word for husbands)

Terms of endearment for both males and females

• 小笨蛋 (xiǎo bèndàn) = little idiot (used for lovers)
• 小坏蛋 (xiǎo huàidàn) = little villain (used for lovers)
• 乖乖 (guāiguāi) = darling, dear; well-behaved, nice, obedient (used for romantic partners, usually females)
• 那口子 (nà kǒuzi) = my wife / husband / better half (“that mouth”)

Provided by Helen Dan (张丹)

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Terms of endearment

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