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Chinese phrases · 15 phrases

Chinese pet names and nicknames

Each with pinyin over every word, the English and sound.

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  1. bǎobèi宝贝，zǎoshànghǎo早上好！

    Good morning, baby!

  2. qīn’ài亲爱de的，wǒ我xiǎng想nǐ你le了。

    I miss you, darling.

  3. lǎogōng老公，nǐ你huílái回来le了！

    You’re home, honey! (to a husband)

  4. lǎopo老婆，wǒ我ài爱nǐ你。

    I love you, honey. (to a wife)

  5. bǎobao宝宝，bié别shēngqì生气le了。

    Don’t be cross, sweetie.

  6. nǐ你shì是wǒ我de的xiǎokě’ài小可爱。

    You’re my little cutie.

  7. shǎguā傻瓜，wǒ我zěnme怎么huì会bùyào不要nǐ你？

    Silly, how could I not want you?

  8. zhūzhū猪猪，gāi该qǐchuáng起床le了！

    Time to get up, piggy!

  9. xiǎomíng小明，guòlái过来yīxià一下！

    Xiaoming, come here a second!

  10. lǎowáng老王，hǎojiǔ-bùjiàn好久不见！

    Old Wang, long time no see!

  11. míngmíng明明，chīfàn吃饭le了！

    Mingming, dinner’s ready!

  12. xiōngdì兄弟，xiè谢le了！

    Thanks, bro!

  13. tā她shì是wǒ我de的guīmì闺蜜。

    She’s my best friend. (between women)

  14. nǐ你de的xiǎo小míng名jiào叫shénme什么？

    What was your nickname as a child?

  15. tā他de的wàihào外号shì是“dàxióng大熊”。

    His nickname is “Big Bear”.

More situations

What do Chinese couples call each other?

宝贝 (bǎobèi, “treasure”) and 亲爱的 (qīn’ài de, “dear”) are the most common; 宝宝 (bǎobao, “baby”) is sweeter still. Married couples say 老公 (lǎogōng) for a husband and 老婆 (lǎopo) for a wife, and many young couples use them before they marry.

How do Chinese nicknames work?

小 (xiǎo) before part of a name is for someone younger or close: 小明. 老 (lǎo) before a surname is for a friend or colleague your age or older: 老王. A doubled syllable, 明明, is for a child or a sweetheart. Most people also have a 小名 (xiǎomíng), the name their family called them as a child.

How do I say them right?

Press Play and say each phrase with the voice, slow first, then at normal speed. Each word’s pinyin is above it, its tone marked.

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More free tools

Pinyin from our own reader.