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THIS WAS MEANT TO BE posted as a second chapter to the work linked above, but at the last minute I decided not to because I never said on there it would get a chap 2 but ended up writing this, and this one is not long but long enough to be a standalone post of its own - so probably best I post it as its own post, though you know it's a continuation of my yesterday's one. I typed everything below thinking I'd actually post this as chap 2 and am now too tired to correct various parts referring to that lmao it doesn't affect the meaning of the post so just read it like this I guess!
So hello I'm back with a final chapter! Well, it's only the second chap but I didn't say this would be getting one even so nobody was expecting it. I already planned to add this on, a final addition, if the original post seemed of interest and aid to people, writers and readers both, therefore this is here to merely make this glossary (that's the word, right? I'm lazy to google it so it may be totally wrong lmao) truly complete.
What is in this chapter is a few more terms of endearment! Listen - if you apply any of these in your story, or more than one: I trust you can elevate it to the next level! The few last terms I would love to share with the amazing folks reading this who seem super respectful of my culture, are ones that are common yet beautiful. They will be striking both to Chinese-understanding readers, and to non-understanding ones. Plus hopefully you'll enjoy using them and feel meaningful most importantly.
Beyond the garden variety baobeis and geges, I personally find other words, when used too, even more evoking of heart-fluttering sensations. It's like in Korean, besides hyung and jagi etc, when fics have more, it just feels indescribably beautiful. To me at least.
I felt that some writers would find the final few Mandarin words I wish to share of value sometime in future. Then, this post will always be here and available. I carefully selected the remaining terms of endearment I saw as a short but satisfactory comprehensive list of options to give your stories that extra dimension.
Without further rambling, here they are:
'er' is an attachment affixed to the end of names or existing terms of endearment to soften it further with fondness and affection. Such as Hao-er or Hao'er, Bin-er or Bin'er, even baobei-er. In Chinese, when spoken it slurs the word tenderly. (Nearly wrote sluts omfg) It's something like calling someone smol as opposed to small. Such a short suffix is able to convey much meaning to the address.
'A' is a similar one. It goes 'A-Hao' or 'A-Bin' etc. For both er and A, they should not be attached to two syllabled parts of names but only one syllable for example Rui-er and A-Rui instead of Quanrui'er. 'A' insinuates familiarity. 'A' is only attached to names as a prefix unlike the suffix 'er' which can be attached to other words as well, and A only goes with one syllable but er can go with two. These two attachments are I guess like 'ie' added to Korean names, Hanbinie, Gyuvinie. As per my examples A and er are added to the front and back of part of names respectively (pick one tho lmfao not like A-Rui'er 🤣).
Xingan or xin gan: literally 'heart and liver'. Refer to one's soulmate as this and it's super romantically calling them the other party's heart and soul. The way people regularly use it is 'xin gan baobei' to elevate a plain baobei! I adore this word bc it's so short but emotional; I mean saying someone is your heart and liver?? 🫠
Tianxin: means sweetheart literally! Idk I find it so swoony? Like if Hao were to suddenly call Hanbin 'tianxin' or vice versa 😭 These words are so pretty imo they're clearly sweet nothings even to people who don't understand Chinese or maybe it's just me lol
Tianshi: means angel
Baobao: slightly distinct from baobei - it carries the nuance of infantilising your lover, not in a negative way just basically calling them the babiest! If you want the regular baby nickname, go with baobei. Baobao is the cloying and cheesy choice - though sometimes the best.
Shuai: handsome!!!
Ke ai: last but not least, this means cute!
Oh btw you need not capitalise the first letter of these words when you use them obviously lmao it's like hyung or ge in the middle of a sentence. Probs best you italicise for maximum effect though.
We are done here! 懂中文的朋友们，我没有错过任何好知识吧? I just asked if any fellow Chinese people are reading this, I did get everything in this glossary, right? 🤣 Idk but I just really wanted to make this short but succinct list of Chinese endearments that can live here forever for anybody to refer to and use in need 🥺 This entire thing turned out the length of a short fic though so I'm equally grateful to all who read it as though you read one of my works. I mean this is a work too isn't it. I didn't expect it to get this long for sure but after chap 1 I had the urge to truly make the list of endearments complete as chap 1 only had like 2 endearments lmao.
I was shocked to see some 'big names' in the kudos section like 😱 wdym popular writers read this post of mine? To clarify I have had a ton of zb1 fics bookmarked for the longest time but I have mild adhd-caused reading difficulties therefore have been plodding through them very slowly which is my reading speed 😭 I will take note of those who kudosed and are on my to-read list and read your stuff first though 🤧 Obviously. Honestly thank you for all the kudos btw I did end up taking quite some time to type both these chaps - cannot believe this chap became similar length to the previous - so I turned out greatly appreciating the appreciation 🖤 I love Chinese and zb1 sm and in final conclusion I'm glad I could write out this post of Mandarin terms and of course the little explanation and leave it here for writers to possibly spice up their works anytime in future. 💖💖💖. (Sorry to the most precious readers on earth for this very random and brief sidetrack from my mission 😂 I will return back to posting my fic chapters that are due right after this - all of them!)