Free Niubi! by Eveline Chao

“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.
     
    热恋 rèliàn ( ruh lyinn )
    To be in the honeymoon phrase, head over heels.
     
    蜜运 mìyùn ( mee yreen )
    Dating seriously. Literally “honey luck.” When a man and woman are in a relationship likely headed toward marriage, young people might say that they are in mìyùn , or struck by “honey luck.” The term is a play on the word “honeymoon,” 蜜月 mìyuè ( mee yreh ), because they sound similar.
     
    爱称 àichēng ( aye chung )
    Literally “love name.” An affectionate nickname, like “baby” or “snookums.” A few common Chinese “love names” are 宝贝 bǎobèi ( baow bay ), “baby” or “treasure”; 亲爱的 qīnàide ( cheen aye duh ), “dear” or “dearest” or “dear one”; 老公 lǎogong ( laow gohng ), “husband” but more literally “old husband”; and 老婆 lǎopó ( laow pwuh ), “wife” but more literally “old wife.”
     
    两小无猜 liǎngxiǎowúcāi ( lyahng shaow oo tsigh )
    Two innocent child playmates (puppy love).
     
    青梅竹马 qīngméizhúmǎ ( cheeng may jooh mah )
    Childhood sweethearts. Literally “green plums and a bamboo horse,” which are both references to childhood, as green plums are not yet ripe, and the bamboo horse refers to a childhood game of pretending to ride horses using a bamboo stick.
     
    光棍节 Guāng Gùn Jié ( gwahng gwen jyih )
    Singles Day. A holiday probably invented by a bunch of Chinese college students in Nanjing during the 1990s, and held on November 11 because of all the ones in the date (11/11), which represent single people. On that date, at 11:11 p.m., male college students across China scream their desire for a girlfriend, bang on rice bowls with spoons, and otherwise make a lot of noise.
     
    剩女 shèngnǚ ( shung nee )
    Literally “leftover woman.” Refers to successful career women who have still not found a spouse, and who have passed an age that the Chinese consider ideal for getting married.
     
    三隐女人 sān yǐn nǚrén ( sahn een nee ren )
    Literally “woman with three secrets.” Refers to married women who, for whatever reasons, keep their marital status, age, and child a secret, leading everyone to think they’re single.
     
    一见钟情 yí jiàn zhōng qíng ( ee jinn johng cheeng )
    Love at first sight. Literally “see once and love.” 锺情 Zhōng qíng ( johng ching ) means love or like.
     
    爱屋及乌 ài wū jí wū ( aye ooh gee ooh )
    Literally “love house and bird.” An expression meaning that when you love someone, you also love everything belonging to or associated with them. An equivalent English expression might be “Love me, love my dog.”
     
    空窗期 kōngchuāngqī ( kohng chwahng chee )
    Literally “open-window period,” referring to the window of time after a breakup when a person is up for grabs. Used especially in reference to someone that everyone wants.
     
    黄昏恋 huánghūnliàn ( hwahng hwen lyinn ) or 夕阳恋 xīyángliàn ( she yahng lyinn )
    Literally “love at dusk” or “sunset love.” A romance between two elderly people. The rising sun is an oft-used metaphor for youth, and conversely the elderly are associated with the setting sun.
     
    跨国恋 kuàguóliàn ( kwah gwuh lyinn )
    Literally “transnational love.” Refers