Chinese word

恋爱

Pronunciation

Pinyinliàn ài

Meaning

  • verbbe in love

Example

他很快就恋爱了。tā hěn kuài jiù liàn ài le

He soon fell in love.

Illustration for 恋爱 (be in love)

More examples

虽然认识很久，但他们直到去年才开始恋爱。suī rán rèn shí hěn jiǔ dàn tā men zhí dào qù nián cái kāi shǐ liàn ài

Although they had known each other for a long time, they did not start dating until last year.

Core concept

The shared state of two people who have fallen for each other and are becoming or remaining a couple.

Common phrases

  • 开始和她恋爱kāi shǐ hé tā liàn ài

    start dating her

  • 继续恋爱下去jì xù liàn ài xià qù

    continue dating

  • 直到去年才开始恋爱zhí dào qù nián cái kāi shǐ liàn ài

    only start dating last year

Similar words

喜欢xǐ huān: To have a favorable feeling toward someone or something.
爱ài: To feel deep love for someone and value their well-being.
交往jiāo wǎng: To maintain a relationship with someone over a period of time.
追求zhuī qiú: To make active efforts to win someone as a romantic partner.

Definition in Chinese

表示与某人陷入恋情或开始以恋人身份交往，也可用来描述正在交往的状态。biǎo shì yǔ mǒu rén xiàn rù liàn qíng huò kāi shǐ yǐ liàn rén shēn fèn jiāo wǎng yě kě yòng lái miáo shù zhèng zài jiāo wǎng de zhuàng tài

Word origin

恋 (liàn, "long for romantically") + 爱 (ài, "love") form a compound that links romantic longing with the loving relationship it develops into.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use be in love mainly for a feeling, while this Chinese verb can also describe the ongoing relationship formed around that feeling.

Other meanings

  • dateverb
  • fall in loveverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 恋爱小说liàn ài xiǎo shuōromance novelnoun
  • 恋爱观liàn ài guānview of lovenoun

Word lists with this word