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恋爱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
恋爱liàn’ài(romantic) loveHSK 5, v, 20 strokes, rank #2273, Hard
恋爱liàn’àiin loveHSK 5, v, 20 strokes, rank #2273, Hard
恋爱liàn’àito have an affairHSK 5, v, 20 strokes, rank #2273, Hard
liàn’ài(lian4ai4)lian ai T4
  1. 1(romantic) love
  2. 2in love
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March 24, 2026

恋爱(戀愛)liàn’ài(lian4ai4)

恋爱 (liàn'ài) refers to a romantic love or relationship, typically involving deep emotional connections and affection between partners. It can also imply being in love or having an affair, often used in contexts discussing relationships and romantic feelings.

Strokes20Frequency#2273DifficultyHard
Cultural note

恋爱 is an important aspect of modern Chinese culture, especially among younger generations, where dating and relationships are often depicted in media. Understanding this term can enhance insights into Chinese dating customs and social dynamics.

Memory tip

Think of 恋 (liàn) as a 'link' between two hearts, where the心 (xīn, heart) radical reminds you of love. The 爱 (ài) character looks like a person with a heart, emphasizing the act of loving. Imagine two people linking their hearts in a romantic embrace.

Meanings of 恋爱

liàn’ài(lian4ai4)
1(romantic) love
2in love
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 恋爱

恋爱Simplified
戀愛Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2273Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 恋爱

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Podcast: 恋爱

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AI study notes for 恋爱

Quick Contrast

恋情 (liànqíng) refers specifically to a romantic relationship or affair, while 恋爱 (liàn'ài) emphasizes the emotional aspect of being in love.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 恋爱 with 爱情 (àiqíng), which refers to the concept of love in a broader sense. 恋爱 is more personal and specific to romantic relationships. Be mindful of using 恋爱 in informal contexts when discussing serious relationships, as it can imply a casual tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 恋爱 connects well with other vocabulary related to emotions and relationships, such as 爱 (ài, love) and 婚姻 (hūnyīn, marriage). Students should focus on the nuances of romantic versus platonic relationships.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 恋爱 with the verb 爱 (ài) alone, mistakenly using it in contexts that require a more specific term. For example, saying 'I love you' as '我恋爱你' is incorrect; it should be '我爱你'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 恋爱

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Component characters

恋liànto feel attached to
HSK 610 strokes心
View full entry
爱àito love
HSK 110 strokes爫
View full entry

How to say (romantic) love in Chinese

“(romantic) love” in Chinese is恋爱liàn’ài

恋爱 (liàn'ài) refers to a romantic love or relationship, typically involving deep emotional connections and affection between partners. It can also imply being in love or having an affair, often used in contexts discussing relationships and romantic feelings.

When to use 恋爱

Common mistakes include confusing 恋爱 with 爱情 (àiqíng), which refers to the concept of love in a broader sense. 恋爱 is more personal and specific to romantic relationships. Be mindful of using 恋爱 in informal contexts when discussing serious relationships, as it can imply a casual tone.

恋爱 or something close to it

恋情 (liànqíng) refers specifically to a romantic relationship or affair, while 恋爱 (liàn'ài) emphasizes the emotional aspect of being in love.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 恋爱 with the verb 爱 (ài) alone, mistakenly using it in contexts that require a more specific term. For example, saying 'I love you' as '我恋爱你' is incorrect; it should be '我爱你'.

Write 恋爱

恋
爱

Practice writing 恋爱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 恋爱

恋爱 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

那些曾经____不顺利的人都会同情休。

Anyone who has been in a troubled relationship will sympathise with Sue.

Example sentences for 恋爱 (10)

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1
那些曾经恋爱不顺利的人都会同情休。

nàxiē céngjīng liàn’ài bù shùnlì de rén dūhuì tóngqíng Xiū。

Anyone who has been in a troubled relationship will sympathise with Sue.
2
要求忠诚意味着你想发展一段严肃认真的恋爱关系。

yāoqiú zhōngchéng yìwèizhe nǐ xiǎng fāzhǎn yī duàn yánsù rènzhēn de liàn’ài guānxì。

Wanting fidelity implies you're thinking about a major relationship.
3
她和哈里恋爱的各阶段写得非常细腻深刻。

tā hé Hā lǐ liàn’ài de gè jiēduàn xiě de fēicháng xìnì shēnkè。

The stages in her love affair with Harry are perceptively written.
4
我每次谈恋爱都深陷其中,无法自拔。

wǒ měi cì tán liàn’ài dōu shēn xiàn qízhōng, wúfǎ zì bá。

Whenever I get into a relationship, I always fall madly in love.
5
谁都会以为你和那个姑娘恋爱了。

shéi dūhuì yǐwéi nǐ hé nàge gūniang liàn’ài le。

Anyone would think you were in love with the girl.
6
我觉得他喜欢和我偷偷摸摸地谈恋爱。

wǒ juéde tā xǐhuan hé wǒ tōutōu mō mō dì tán liàn’ài。

I think he enjoyed keeping our love a secret.
7
暗示我们正在谈恋爱的说法真是太荒谬了。

ànshì wǒmen zhèngzài tán liàn’ài de shuōfǎ zhēnshi tài huāngmiù le。

It is ridiculous to suggest we are having a romance.
8
你怎么能和她谈恋爱呢?她简直就是个恐龙。

nǐ zěnme néng hé tā tán liàn’ài ne? tā jiǎnzhí jiùshì gè kǒnglóng。

How can you go out with her? She's a real dog.
9
她和伦道夫已经谈了近一年恋爱了。

tā hé lún dào fū yǐjīng tán le jìn yī nián liàn’ài le。

She's been going steady with Randolph for almost a year now.
10
他们恋爱不久便结婚了。

tāmen liàn’ài bùjiǔ biàn jiéhūn le。

They married after a short courtship.

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Cultural Notes for 恋爱

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of恋爱 may be more publicly celebrated in Chinese culture, while Western cultures often emphasize individualism in relationships, which can lead to different dating practices.

Frequently asked questions about 恋爱

恋爱 refers specifically to being in a romantic relationship, while 爱情 encompasses the broader concept of love, including familial and platonic love.

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