Do Pick-Up Lines Work on Chinese Women?

Do you know what pick-up lines and cheeseburgers have in common? They’re ridiculously cheesy and greasy.

Pick-up lines can give puns a run for their money with how awkward they can make a situation. Then again, some women dig this dorky way of flirting.

But in the case of Chinese women, do pick-up lines work?

The Answer: It Depends on the Delivery

Traditional Chinese people aren’t very open to picking up lines, especially when it’s from a total stranger. It’s frowned upon since flirting is considered playing around, and marriage is a matter that they take very seriously.

In major cities, such as Shanghai or Beijing, using pickup lines is pretty harmless. The women who live there are quite modern and don’t mind a bit of fun. They are also fond of using pick-up lines — but not the ones with cheesy jokes.

A crowd favorite seems to be 加个微信吧 or “Let’s add each other on WeChat.” (For those who don’t know, WeChat is an online messaging/dating app.) This pick-up line is a subtle but flirty way of saying they want to get to know them better.

Pick-up lines with puns are fine, but only if you have great charisma and are able to deliver the punchline right.

One factor you have to consider is how long you’ve known the person you are flirting with. Much like the English language, Mandarin and Cantonese also have their own polite and casual speech.

When using a pick-up line with an acquaintance, it’s advised to still use polite speech. The only exception to this is when you are close enough to be considered friends. Only then can you use casual speech.

Here are a few examples of these pickup lines you can use:

Casual: 你怎么这么漂亮 or “Why are you so pretty?

Polite: 你吃了吗 or “Have you eaten any food?”

How about Online Dating Apps? Do Pick-Up Lines Work?

Yes, absolutely.

You won’t have to worry about bumping into overly traditional Chinese women on the internet, and not especially on dating apps. In fact, the best online dating users you encounter have most likely adapted or grown with the modern era.

Besides, ice breakers are hard to come up with when you find a match on Chinese dating apps. Simple greetings are sometimes bland and boring, so they try to up their game with catchy lines such as this:

Person A: 妳喜歡水嗎？(Do you like water?)

Person B: 喜歡 (Yes)

Person A: 真好，你已經愛上72%的我了 (then you already like 72% of me)

There are a few exceptions and factors you must consider, such as the dating app you are using and the kind of people it attracts. If you were to use a pick-up line in a casual dating app, you’d most likely be ignored. But for dating sites with the end goal of marriage, others might find it entertaining.

Pick-up lines do work — you just have to be tactful. Have some awareness of the situation and use the right language. Build up some confidence while you’re at it. When you’ve gotten these down to a tee, pick-up lines are going to be your favorite part of dating a Chinese Woman.