甜 tián (tyinn)

Sweet. Can describe either food or girls. Its meaning differs from the English meaning “extremely nice and thoughtful” in that it also connotes “cutesy.” For example, girls from Taiwan are described by mainlanders as sounding very tián because their accents sound girlish and cute to Chinese outside of Taiwan. A sweet girl is a 甜妞 tián nīu (tyinn nyoo).

可爱 kě’ài (kuh aye)

Cute.

卡哇依 kǎwāyī (kuh why ee)

Based on the Japanese word kawaii, meaning “cute” or “cutesy.” Tends to be used more often in Taiwan and other areas more strongly influenced by Japanese culture.

娃娃 wáwa (wah wah-that should be a short a; rhymes with “tra-la-la”)

Cute girl. Literally “baby” or “doll.”

绝色 juésè (dreh suh)

An extremely beautiful appearance (used as a noun). Literally “special color.” Used frequently on the Internet.

靓 liàng (lyahng)

Pretty or handsome. Literally “light” or “glowing” or “bright.” A pretty girl is a 靓女 liàng nǚ (lyahng nee), literally “glowing girl,” and a handsome young man is a 靓仔 liàng zǎi, literally “pretty boy.” Used in southern China.

迷人 mírén (me ren)

Fascinating, enchanting, charming, tempting (usually describing a female). Literally “attracts people.”

丰满 fēngmǎn (fung mahn)

Voluptuous, buxom. Literally “plentiful and full.”

身材 shēncái (shen tsigh)

Figure, body. Literally “body shape.”

条 tiáo (tyow)

Figure, shape (usually describing women). Ordinarily tiáo is a word that indicates reference to anything with a long and thin shape, like a stick or a noodle.

性感 xìnggǎn (sheeng gahn)

Sexy.

妖媚 yāomèi (yow may)

Sexy, enchanting. Literally “evil charming.”

妖里妖气 yāo lǐ yāo qì (yow lee yow chee)

Seductive and bewitching, sexy.

妖精 yāojing (yow jing)

Alluring woman, siren. Literally “evil spirit.”

尖果儿 jiān guǒr (jinn gwurr)

Beijing slang for a hot girl. Literally “sharp girl.”

尖孙儿 jiān sūnr (jinn swurr)

Beijing slang for a hot guy. Literally “sharp guy.”

辣妹 làmèi (lah may)

Southern Chinese slang for a hot girl. Literally “spicy sister.”

惹火 rěhuǒ (ruh hwuh)

Sexy, hot (female). Popular among young people.

帅 shuài (shwhy-think of it as “shh” and “why” mushed into one syllable)

Handsome. Literally “leader in battle.” Describes men, but like “pretty,” piàoliang (page 59), this can also be said in response to an impressive spectacle. You can make the sentiment stronger by saying 很帅! hěn shuài! (hun shwhy), literally “very handsome,” or 帅呆了 shuài dāi le, literally “stunningly handsome.”

帅哥 shuài gē (shwigh guh-shuài rhymes with “high”)

Handsome man. Literally “handsome older brother.” Often used as a flattering form of address for any good-looking young man.

壮 zhuàng (jwong)

Buff, strong. Beijingers pronounce it using third tone instead of fourth tone-zhuǎng (jwong).

酷 kù (coo)

Cool (a transliteration from the English). A common way to describe a guy you find attractive, and more likely to be used by young people today than 帅 shuài (shwigh), which means “handsome.”

棒 bàng (bahng-almost like “bong” but with an ahh sound replacing the o)

Capable, strong, awesome. Often said when praising someone. If a child does a good job cleaning his or her room, you can say 很棒! hěn bàng! (hun bahng), literally “very great.” Or if a girl has a really rockin’ body, you can say, “他的身材很棒!” “Tā de shēncái hěn bàng!” (tah duh shen tsigh hun bahng): “Her body is awesome!”

倍儿棒 bèir bàng (burr bahng)

Really great, really awesome. This is how a Beijing or Tian jin local might express 棒 bàng (bahng). (倍 Bèi means “multiply” and the儿 er (er) sound indicates a Beijing accent.) Thus a Beijinger complimenting a girl’s body might say, “你的身材倍儿棒!” “Nĭ de shēncái bèir bang!” (nee duh shen tsigh burr bahng): “You have a rockin’ body.”

养眼 yǎngyǎn (yahng yen)

Eye candy, good-looking, beautiful, easy on the eyes. Literally “fits eye.”

喜欢 xǐhuān (shee hwun)

To like.

爱 ài (aye-rhymes with “sigh”)

To love.

疼 téng (tung) or 疼爱 téng ài (tung aye)

Love (verb). Can be used both for romantic love and for parental or familial love. Can also mean “to spoil,” as in spoiling a beloved child. Téng can also mean “pain,” which you shouldn’t read into too deeply, but knowing it should give extra depth to this way of saying love.

暗恋 ànliàn (ahn lyinn)

To have a crush on.

谈恋爱 tánliàn’ài (tahn lyinn aye)

To date, to have a relationship with. Literally “talk about love” or “talk romance.”

约会 yuēhuì (yreh hway)

A date (noun). Came about due to Western influence.

AA 制 AA zhì (AA jih) and AB 制 AB zhì (AB jih)

Literally “AA system” and “AB system.” “Going Dutch” when you eat out is often called AA zhì in Chinese. However, going Dutch is a relatively recent concept for Chinese people. More recently, some people (men dining out with women in particular) are choosing to split the bill but pay a bit more, say 70 percent, and this is called AB zhì.

初恋 chūliàn (choo lyinn)

First relationship, first love.

女朋友 nǚpéngyǒu (nee pung yo)

Girlfriend. A direct translation from the English word, and like the English it usually means the girl a guy is dating but sometimes merely refers to a female friend.

男朋友 nánpéngyǒu (nahn pung yo)

Boyfriend.

马子 mǎzi (mah dz)

A slangy word for “girlfriend.” Originated in Hong Kong and was once used derogatorily (literally means “horse”), but now carries a positive connotation.

凯子 kǎizi (kigh dz)

A slangy term for “boyfriend” and the counterpart to mǎzi (above). Describes the ideal image of a boyfriend, as 凯 kǎi (kigh) means “triumphant” and connotes a hero victorious in battle.

我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ (wuh aye nee)

I love you.

鸳鸯 yuānyāng (yren yahng)

A pair of lovers. Also means Mandarin ducks, a frequent metaphor for lovers in classic literature.

拍拖 pāituō (pie twuh)

Courting, dating, being in love, having an affair. Literally “on patrol.” Used in southern China.