Chinese word

暗恋

Pronunciation

Pinyinàn liàn

Meaning

  • nounsecret crush

Example

他心里有个暗恋的人。tā xīn lǐ yǒu gè àn liàn de rén

There is someone he has a secret crush on.

Illustration for 暗恋 (secret crush)

More examples

很多人小时候都有过暗恋的经历。hěn duō rén xiǎo shí hòu dōu yǒu guò àn liàn de jīng lì

Many people had a secret crush when they were young.

Core concept

A quiet one-sided attachment that stays inside the admirer instead of becoming an openly shared romance.

Common phrases

  • 暗恋对象àn liàn duì xiàng

    object of a secret crush

  • 暗恋的感觉àn liàn de gǎn jué

    feeling of a secret crush

  • 暗恋的心事àn liàn de xīn shì

    secret feelings for a crush

Similar words

单恋dān liàn: Love felt by one person alone, usually without the other person's love in return.
单相思dān xiāng sī: A solitary romantic longing directed toward someone.

Definition in Chinese

暗自喜欢某个人但不表露的单方面感情。àn zì xǐ huān mǒu gè rén dàn bù biǎo lù de dān fāng miàn gǎn qíng

Word origin

The word 暗恋 (ànliàn, "secretly love") joins 暗 (àn, "hidden") and 恋 (liàn, "love"), so its form pictures love that remains unspoken.

Usage tips

  • In relationship conversations, this word suits feelings that exist before a clear confession or mutual relationship, rather than an established romance.

Other meanings

  • unrequited lovenoun

Opposites

  • 公开恋情gōng kāi liàn qíngpublicly acknowledged relationshipnoun
  • 情侣qíng lǚmutual romantic partnersnoun

Related words

  • 暗恋者àn liàn zhěperson with a secret crushnoun

Word lists with this word