宝贝

• Pinyin: bǎo bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 宝 = 宀 (roof) + 玉 (jade), meaning treasure; 贝 = pictograph of a cowrie shell, meaning precious/shell

Meaning

Treasure; darling; baby. A term of endearment for someone or something precious.

Used both for precious objects (treasures, valuables) and as an affectionate form of address for children, partners, or loved ones. Very common in family life and romantic relationships. On e-commerce platforms, 宝贝 is also used to refer to a product listing.

Examples

1. 妈妈总是叫我宝贝，让我觉得很温暖。 Mum always calls me 'darling,' which makes me feel very warm.
2. 这些老照片是我最珍贵的宝贝。 These old photos are my most precious treasures.
3. 宝贝，早点睡觉，明天还要上学呢。 Darling, go to bed early — you still have school tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: family, romantic, everyday

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 宝贝，你今天在学校开心吗？(Darling, were you happy at school today?)
• 这枚戒指是她的宝贝。(This ring is her treasure.)

Don't Say

• 对不熟的人说'宝贝' (Don't call someone you don't know well 宝贝 — it's too intimate and may make them uncomfortable)

Origin & History

A compound of 宝 (treasure) and 贝 (shell, historically used as currency). Together they reinforce the idea of something precious, later extended to loved ones.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal