Dating apps in Chinese 交友软件
jiāoyǒu ruǎnjiàn
Dating app in Chinese is 交友软件 (jiāo yǒu ruǎn jiàn).
Also searched for as: dating app, online dating, Tinder, swipe right, match on an app.
Swipe, match, chat, and maybe actually meet up. 15 essential dating apps words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
Dating apps in Chinese are usually called 交友软件 (jiāo yǒu ruǎn jiàn), "making-friends software", and the swiping vocabulary translates neatly: 右滑 (yòu huá) to like, 左滑 (zuǒ huá) to pass, 配对 (pèi duì) to match. The interesting words come later, when an online chat becomes a real meeting, or 奔现 (bēn xiàn), and you discover whether the photos were honest or just 照骗 (zhào piàn).
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 交友软件 | jiāo yǒu ruǎn jiàn | dating app |
| 探探 | Tàn tàn | Tantan (a Chinese dating app) |
| 网恋 | wǎng liàn | online relationship |
| 右滑 | yòu huá | to swipe right |
| 左滑 | zuǒ huá | to swipe left |
| 配对 | pèi duì | to match |
| 头像 | tóu xiàng | profile picture |
| 个人简介 | gè rén jiǎn jiè | bio; profile |
| 照骗 | zhào piàn | misleading photo (pun on 照片 "photo") |
| 美颜 | měi yán | beauty filter |
| 网友 | wǎng yǒu | someone you met online |
| 奔现 | bēn xiàn | to meet in real life (after chatting online) |
| 脱单 | tuō dān | to stop being single |
| 单身狗 | dān shēn gǒu | singleton (jokey) |
| 见光死 | jiàn guāng sǐ | to fizzle out once you meet in person (lit. die on seeing daylight) |
Usage tips
- 网友 (wǎng yǒu) can mean any internet user, as in comment sections, but 见网友 (jiàn wǎng yǒu) specifically means meeting someone you only know online, often for a date.
- 交友 (jiāo yǒu) literally means "making friends", so 交友软件 can sound vaguer than "dating app". To be explicit, 约会软件 (yuē huì ruǎn jiàn) also works.
- 见光死 (jiàn guāng sǐ) describes a romance that fizzles out at the first real meeting. It often pairs with 奔现 (bēn xiàn): 一奔现就见光死 (yī bēn xiàn jiù jiàn guāng sǐ).
Common mistakes
- 照骗 (zhào piàn) and 照片 (zhào piàn) sound identical, so the pun only works in writing. Said aloud, add context such as 跟本人不像 (gēn běn rén bù xiàng), "doesn't look like them in person".
- 单身狗 (dān shēn gǒu) is a self-deprecating joke, best used about yourself. Calling someone else a 单身狗 can come across as mocking, so save it for close friends.
Mini dialogue
- A你最近还在用交友软件吗？Nǐ zuì jìn hái zài yòng jiāo yǒu ruǎn jiàn ma?Are you still using dating apps?
- B在用。上周我跟一个人配对了，聊得很好。Zài yòng. Shàng zhōu wǒ gēn yī ge rén pèi duì le, liáo de hěn hǎo.Yes. Last week I matched with someone and we got on really well.
- A那你们打算奔现吗？Nà nǐ men dǎ suàn bēn xiàn ma?So are you planning to meet in person?
- B周六见面。希望他的头像不是照骗！Zhōu liù jiàn miàn. Xī wàng tā de tóu xiàng bù shì zhào piàn!We're meeting on Saturday. I hope his profile picture isn't a fake!
Example sentences
- 你用过交友软件吗？Have you ever used a dating app?
- 很多年轻人用探探。Lots of young people use Tantan.
- 你觉得网恋靠谱吗？Do you think online relationships can work?
- 看到喜欢的就右滑。Swipe right on anyone you like.
- 不是我的菜，左滑。Not my type, swipe left.
- 我们配对成功了！We matched!
- 他的头像是一只猫。His profile picture is a cat.
- 你的个人简介写得很有意思。Your bio is really interesting.
- 见面才发现全是照骗！When we met, I realised the photos were totally fake!
- 她的照片美颜开得太大了。Her photos have way too much beauty filter.
- 我今天要去见网友。I'm meeting someone from the internet today.
- 我们聊了三个月，终于奔现了。After three months of chatting, we finally met in person.
- 今年我一定要脱单！This year I'm definitely finding someone!
- 我还是一只单身狗。I'm still a lonely singleton.
- 很多网恋一奔现就见光死。Lots of online romances fizzle out the moment you meet.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Dating apps speaking island has 8 everyday questions about dating apps to prepare your own answers to.