It means big friend, but dont think about it too hard the person doesnt have to literally be big. + given name might be used once the young friend gets older. Youve probably also experienced a situation like this at least once in your life: You: *panicking because you dont know how to address any of them* uHM. While gwilu is used by some Cantonese speakers in informal speech, the more polite alternative si yn (; 'Western person') is now used as well, particularly if the conversation involves a non-Chinese person in order to avoid offense.[10]. You can use those titles with strangers as well, so long as theyre close to your parents age. There are quite a few that translate into the English pet names you already know, and there are a couple that are quite strange and require a bit of explanation. Most of the terms for cousin are shortened sibling terms ( [ze2], [mui6], [go1], [dai6]) with one of two relation markers [tong4] or [biu2] added in front. The augmentative suffix for masculine nouns or names is -o. Knowing Chinese terms of endearment will boost your Chinese social skills and improve your relationships with people who speak Chinese. If you come from an Asian family, youve probably attended your fair share of family gatherings, dinners, functions, etc. Thanks this is really useful. For example if a husband likes calling his wife "honey", he'll probably refer to her as "honey" in Chinese as. A nickname is a fun, playful way to express your feelings for your partner and establish a level of familiarity and comfort in the relationship. Tagalog has borrowed the English term of endearment bae, but has given it a new spelling--bhe.. Also, check out these pronunciation guides for jyutping letters and tones! We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. Just like how some kids call their fathers pops and parents call their kids sweetie or baby, there are plenty of terms of endearment to go around in Chinese families. English: other half / most important person. One thing to note is that the term on its own is slang for prostitute in some parts of China. It's a word that connotes tenderness and affection. Many Chinese kinship terms incorporate words that indicate different types of relations (Ill call them relation markers), especially relations by blood and by marriage. 'little ghost') is a common term in Mandarin Chinese for a child. The pronunciation is written using the Jyutping system. Pet names for a girlfriend or wife in German This one literally means tiger cub or tiger son., When literally translated, it means 1000 gold., Pinyin: g ge/ d di / ji ji / mi mei. Whether you want to politely address your cab driver or speak to the owner of an establishment, its important that you talk to people with humility and respect, especially towards those who are serving you in some sort of way. Cario can be used to refer to a romantic partner. However, xiaogui (; pinyin: xiogu; lit. Wee is also commonly used this way in Scotland. If youre addressing other peoples parents that are around the same age as your parents, you may also refer to them as or . 32+ Common Chinese Terms of Endearment You Need to Know, Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture Blog, Other Names and Respectful Titles in Chinese, How to Stream Chinese TV Online: 4 Rad Resources, 6 Chat Platforms to Learn Chinese with Chatrooms and Chatbots, 41 Chinese Video Resources for Learning Real-world Conversation at Any Level, An Easier Way to Learn Chinese: Comprehensible Input, 6 Handy Tools That Give You the Pinyin Subtitles You Want. Babe Other variations on this affectionate name may be "bae" or "baby". Whether it be to joke around, show affection, or even flirt with someone, using these words correctly will help you sound more like a native speaker. What to Call Your Relatives In Cantonese - little chinese things Feminine words use -ona. Mon amour - "My love". Popular terms also vary greatly from culture to culture. Affiliate Disclaimer: Lingalot is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Ever since the Kwan family website went offline I struggle to look these up sometimes. (See full affiliate disclosure.). Common Synonyms of "My Love" in Different Languages: The "Pet" Names.