Saying “I love you” is one of the strongest ways to tell someone how much they mean to you. It is a way to express your feelings while making that special person feel cared for. The phrase “I love you” is not just a term you can say during Valentine’s Day; it is a deep term you can use when you need to express those strong feelings to your loved ones.
Therefore, if you have someone dear to you who speaks Cantonese and would like to offer a much more memorable moment while telling them your feelings, you could tell them I love you in Cantonese.
In this blog, you will learn this phrase plus other widely used Cantonese phrases to use with a Cantonese person.
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How To Say I Love You In Cantonese?
You may probably have heard Wǒ ài nǐ (我爱你) more often. This phrase is from Mandarin, a language that is widely spoken in Mainland China. But this blog will focus on another Chinese language, Cantonese. So if you are planning to go to Hong Kong or if your loved one is from Hong Kong, you may want to learn the following words and phrases related to love and to date.
Here is a list of sentences used for I Love You In Cantonese:
| Meaning | Cantonese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I love you | 我愛你 | Ngo5 Oi3 Nei5 |
| You Mean So Much To Me | 你喺我心目中好重要 | Nei5 Hai2 Ngo5 Sam1 Muk6 Zung1 Hou2 Zung6 Jiu3 |
| Words Can’t Describe My Love For You | 冇辦法用言語嚟形容我對你嘅愛 | Mou5 Baan6 Faat3 Jung6 Jin4 Jyu5 Lei4 Jing4 Jung4 Ngo5 Deoi3 Nei5 Ge3 Oi3 |
| A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you | 百個心都裝唔晒我對你嘅愛 | Jat1 Baak3 Go3 Sam1 Dou1 Zong1 M4 Saai3 Ngo5 Deoi3 Nei5 Ge3 Oi3 |
| I really like you | 我好中意你啊 | Ngo5 Hou2 Zung1 Ji3 Nei5 Aa3 |
| I think of you as more than a friend | 我當你係朋友咋 | Ngo5 Dong3 Nei5 Hai6 Pang4 Jau5 Zaa3 |
1. 我愛你 (Ngo5 Oi3 Nei5)
Ngo5 Oi3 Nei5 (我愛你) literally means “I love you” in English. This is the common way to say I love you in Cantonese.
In addition, if someone else tells you, “I love you,” and you want to say “I love you too” in Cantonese, use the following phrase: 我都愛你 (ngo5 dou1 oi3 nei5 – I love you too)
2. 你喺我心目中好重要 (Nei5 Hai2 Ngo5 Sam1 Muk6 Zung1 Hou2 Zung6 Jiu3)
This means, ” You Mean So Much To Me.”
Some people are not that comfortable expressing what they feel. If you want not to be too direct to say I love you in Cantonese, say nei5 hai2 ngo5 sam1 muk6 zung1 hou2 zung6 jiu3. (你喺我心目中好重要。) This means “You mean so much to me.” in English.
3. 冇辦法用言語嚟形容我對你嘅愛 (Mou5 Baan6 Faat3 Jung6 Jin4 Jyu5 Lei4 Jing4 Jung4 Ngo5 Deoi3 Nei5 Ge3 Oi3)
Sometimes, words are not enough to express your feelings to the one you love. So, to say that in Cantonese, use the sentence “Words Can’t Describe My Love For You”- Mou5 baan6 faat3 jung6 jin4 jyu5 lei4 jing4 jung4 ngo5 deoi3 nei5 ge3 oi3.
4. 百個心都裝唔晒我對你嘅愛 (Jat1 Baak3 Go3 Sam1 Dou1 Zong1 M4 Saai3 Ngo5 Deoi3 Nei5 Ge3 Oi3)
This means, “A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.”
Some people love it to be extra cheesy. They usually use figurative words not to exaggerate but to show how deeply they are in love. Another way to say I love you in Cantonese is Jat1 baak3 go3 sam1 dou1 zong1 m4 saai3 ngo5 deoi3 nei5 de3 oi3. (百個心都裝唔晒我對你嘅愛。)
5. 我好中意你啊 (Ngo5 Hou2 Zung1 Ji3 Nei5 Aa3)
Locals from Hong Kong often say this sentence when confessing their love for the first time since it is not too heavy. It means ” I really like you.” – 我好中意你啊 (Ngo5 Hou2 Zung1 Ji3 Nei5 Aa3)
6. 我當你係朋友咋 (Ngo5 Dong3 Nei5 Hai6 Pang4 Jau5 Zaa3)
Making it more subtle is the game plan of some, especially if they are not that good with words. Another way to say I love you in Cantonese that is more subtle is 我當你係朋友咋 (Ngo5 Dong3 Nei5 Hai6 Pang4 Jau5 Zaa3). This means, “I think of you as more than a friend.”.
More Sentences To Say I Love You In Cantonese
Here are some more expressions make I Love You In Cantonese more cheesy:
| Meaning | Cantonese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I can’t be without you | 冇你唔得 | mou5 nei5 m4 dak1 |
| I’ve got a crush on you | 我暗戀你 | Ngo5 am3 lyun5 nei5 |
| You are my sunshine, my love | 你係我嘅陽光，我嘅愛人 | Nei5 hai6 ngo5 ge3 joeng4 gwong1, ngo5 ge3 oi3 jan4 |
| Love is just love. It can never be explained | 愛就係愛,解釋唔到 | Oi3 zau6 hai6 oi3. gaai2 sik1 m4 dou2 |
| You’re so beautiful | 你好靚 | Nei5 hou2 leng3 |
| You’re so handsome | 你好靚仔 | Nei5 hou2 leng3 zai2 |
Saying I love you is like reminding your loved one how much you value him/her in your life. Knowing that somebody loves you and treasures you with all his/her heart is one of the greatest feelings in life that is really priceless. Now that you have learned how to say I love you in Cantonese, all these words, don’t forget to “walk the talk.” Show your sincerity through your efforts!
Frequently Asked Questions About I Love You In Cantonese
How Do You Say “We Love You” In Cantonese?
In Cantonese,” I love you” is “我哋愛你”(ngo5 dei6 oi3 nei5)
Is it common to say “I love you” in Cantonese culture?
Expressing love verbally is less common, especially among older generations. Actions and gestures often replace verbal declarations. However, younger people may say 我愛你 (ngo5 oi3 nei5) more openly.
How To Say “Love” In Cantonese?
In Cantonese, the word for “love” is 愛 (oi3).
What’s the difference between 我愛你 (ngo5 oi3 nei5) and 我鍾意你 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 nei5)?
我愛你 (ngo5 oi3 nei5) is a more direct and serious declaration of love, while 我鍾意你 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 nei5) is more casual, often used in the early stages of a relationship.
Wrapping Up
That’s it for today’s love language, lovebirds! There are so many ways to show affection, from casual expressions like 我鍾意你 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 nei5) – “I like you,” to deeper sentiments such as 你係我嘅陽光 (nei5 hai6 ngo5 ge3 joeng4 gwong1) – “You are my sunshine.” Learning Cantonese not only opens doors to these heartfelt expressions but also helps bridge cultural gaps! Speak your love loud, but convey sincerity with genuine actions!
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