恋爱 (liànài): romantic love

Meanings

Tāmen liàn'ài sān nián le.

They have been in a relationship for three years.

Tán liàn'ài bù néng yǐngxiǎng xuéxí.

Being in a relationship shouldn't affect your studies.

Chūliàn shì zuì měihǎo de liàn'ài.

First love is the most beautiful romance.

usage

谈恋爱 (tán liàn'ài) = to be in a romantic relationship (literally 'to discuss love'). 恋爱 alone is the noun 'romance/love.'

culture

早恋 (zǎoliàn, 'early love') refers to dating in middle/high school and is often discouraged by Chinese parents and schools.

恋 liàn

爱 ài