Relationships & Dating

Introduction

Modern Mandarin slang moves fast, and one of the best ways to hear that energy is through how people talk about relationships and dating. This chapter gathers the expressions speakers reach for in that space, so you can catch the humour, attitude, and social texture behind the words instead of translating them too literally.

Use these phrases as a guide to how internet culture, group identity, and everyday conversation shape contemporary Chinese.

All Chinese Slang in This Chapter (40)

1. 脱单 tuō dān To stop being single by starting a romantic relationship.
2. 单身狗 dān shēn gǒu A self-mocking label for a single person, especially around couples.
3. 撒狗粮 sā gǒu liáng To show off romantic affection in front of others.
4. 吃醋 chī cù To feel jealous, especially in romance.
5. 暧昧 ài mèi Flirtatious ambiguity before a relationship is clearly defined.
6. 海王 hǎi wáng A person who flirts with many people at once or keeps many romantic options open.
7. 舔狗 tiǎn gǒu A person who pursues someone with excessive devotion despite little respect or response.
8. 直男 zhí nán A straight man, often with the added slang sense of being blunt or romantically insensitive.
9. 绿茶 lǜ chá A person who acts innocent or gentle while being manipulative, especially in social or romantic situations.
10. 备胎 bèi tāi A backup romantic option kept in reserve.
11. 普信男 pǔ xìn nán An ordinary man with unjustified confidence, especially in dating or social judgment.
12. 恋爱脑 liàn ài nǎo A person who lets romance override judgment and priorities.
13. crush crush A romantic interest or person one has a light infatuation with.
14. 官宣 guān xuān To officially announce a relationship, decision, or identity to the public.
15. 奔现 bēn xiàn To meet offline after knowing someone online, usually with romantic possibility.
16. 网恋 wǎng liàn An online romantic relationship.
17. 异地恋 yì dì liàn A long-distance romantic relationship.
18. 断联 duàn lián To cut off contact with someone, especially after conflict or a breakup.
19. 冷暴力 lěng bào lì Emotional coldness, silent treatment, or withdrawal used in a harmful way.
20. 情绪稳定 qíng xù wěn dìng Emotionally steady and able to handle situations without volatile reactions.
21. 友情以上 yǒu qíng yǐ shàng More than friendship, often implying romantic ambiguity.
22. 双向奔赴 shuāng xiàng bēn fù Mutual effort and enthusiasm in a relationship or collaboration.
23. 母胎单身 mǔ tāi dān shēn Single since birth, meaning someone has never been in a romantic relationship.
24. 纯爱战士 chún ài zhàn shì Someone who strongly supports sincere, innocent, devoted love stories.
25. 暧昧期 ài mèi qī The ambiguous pre-relationship stage where feelings are suggested but not confirmed.
26. 拉扯感 lā chě gǎn The push-pull tension between people, often in flirting or emotional negotiation.
27. 相处边界 xiāng chǔ biān jiè Boundaries for how people interact in a relationship or friendship.
28. 恋爱脑自救 liàn ài nǎo zì jiù Trying to pull oneself out of overly romance-centered thinking.
29. crush文学 crush wén xué Sentimental or stylized posts about having a crush.
30. 心动对象 xīn dòng duì xiàng Someone who makes you feel attracted or interested romantically.
31. 搭伙过日子 dā huǒ guò rì zǐ To live life together as practical partners, sometimes with less romantic intensity.
32. 情绪回收站 qíng xù huí shōu zhàn A person who is treated as the place where others dump emotions.
33. 陪聊搭子 péi liáo dā zǐ A chat companion, often someone who keeps you company by messaging.
34. 恋爱搭子 liàn ài dā zǐ A casual dating partner framed as a companion for romantic experiences.
35. 约会搭子 yuē huì dā zǐ Someone you go on dates or date-like outings with.
36. 分手冷静期 fēn shǒu lěng jìng qī A cooling-off period after or during a breakup.
37. 复合预警 fù hé yù jǐng A joking “warning” that ex-partners may get back together.
38. 双标现场 shuāng biāo xiàn chǎng A clear moment where someone applies double standards.
39. 安全感拉满 ān quán gǎn lā mǎn To make someone feel very secure, reassured, or emotionally safe.
40. 不内耗关系 bù nèi hào guān xì A relationship that does not drain people through overthinking, conflict, or emotional friction.