HSK · Level 42
120 words
Chinese word
宝贝
Pronunciation
Pinyinbǎo bèi
Meaning
- nounhoney
Example
晚安，宝贝，做个好梦。wǎn ān bǎo bèi zuò gè hǎo mèng
Good night, honey. Have sweet dreams.
More examples
亲爱的宝贝，我今晚会回去看你。qīn ài de bǎo bèi wǒ jīn wǎn huì huí qù kàn nǐ
Dear sweetheart, I'll come back to see you tonight.
Core concept
What is valued like treasure can become a gentle name for a cherished person.
Common phrases
晚安，宝贝wǎn ān bǎo bèi
good night, darling
亲爱的宝贝qīn ài de bǎo bèi
dear sweetheart
Similar words
亲爱的qīn ài de: A loving form of address for a dear person in speech or writing.
宝宝báo bǎo: A gentle name used when affectionately addressing a young child.
Definition in Chinese
原指贵重的物品，引申为对婴儿或亲密的人表示疼爱与珍视的称呼。yuán zhǐ guì zhòng de wù pǐn yǐn shēn wèi duì yīng ér huò qīn mì de rén biǎo shì téng ài yǔ zhēn shì de chēng hū
Word origin
宝贝 (bǎobèi, "precious treasure") is formed from 宝 (bǎo, "treasure") + 贝 (bèi, "shell currency"), reflecting the older idea of valuable goods and the later idea of a cherished person.
Usage tips
- The tone depends on the relationship: addressed to a child it sounds caring, while addressed to an adult it can sound intimate or playful, so context matters more than a fixed English equivalent.