By Jeff Cappleman
You might be surprised to know that when you give a bouquet of flowers to a Chinese person, she may pick up on a hidden meaning - whether you intend it or not.
The type of flower and the number of flowers in the arrangement have special significance in Chinese culture. Your gift of flowers says more than just "I love you." Other meanings include:"I'm sorry," or "Will you marry me?"
...So choose carefully!
And keep in mind that while many people know the special meaning, not everyone in China does. And to top it off, some Chinese people may attach a different, alternate meaning than what appears below. There is not one universally recognized meaning for each number.
So how can you play it safe? How do you make sure she gets your true intention? Easy! Just write your meaning onto the card that goes with the flowers. That way, she'll understand your message and it will match the number of flowers in the bouquet.
Before you read the examples below, keep in mind that the English phrases are sometimes clumsy or awkward sounding. Why? It's because the Chinese words are very poetic and often contains multiple sub-meanings, puns and rhythms which don't translate into English.
Chinese flower number meanings:
* 1 flower: I love only you. You, and only you, are in my heart.
* 2 flowers: In my mind, I just think of you and me.
* 3 flowers: I love you.
* 4 flowers: Promise of love.
* 5 flowers: No regrets with you.
* 6 flowers: I hope everything goes your way.
* 7 flowers: I feel happy when I'm with you.
* 8 flowers: I apologize. Please forgive me.
* 9 flowers: No regrets. Forever with you in love.
* 10 flowers: Perfect love.
* 11 flowers: Single-minded focus on your happiness. Concentrating on you with all my heart and soul.
* 12 flowers:Soul connection.
* 13 flowers: A secret admirer.
* 15 flowers: I'm sorry.
* 17 flowers: Happy ending, leaving each other on good terms.
* 18 flowers: Sincere heart.
* 19 flowers: Looking forward to being with you.
* 20 flowers: Forever loving you with an unchanging heart.
* 21 flowers: You are my best love.
* 22 flowers: (Double 2: This number is very popular in China, because a happy couple is 2 people (double happiness). Since the number 22 has 2 two's, it's especially meaningful.) In love to no end.
* 24 flowers: I miss you. I'm thinking about you.
* 25 flowers: Good luck.
* 30 flowers: Our love goes beyond words.
* 33 flowers: I will always love you...for many years, and for very long.
* 36 flowers:My heart belongs to you.
* 44 flowers: I promise my steady love for you.
* 50 flowers: No regrets.
* 55 flowers:I love you with no regrets.
* 56 flowers: My love.
* 60 flowers: Our love is very steady, strong and stable.
* 66 flowers: True steady love. Good mood.
Again, make sure you write your intended meaning onto the card that goes with the bouquet. There's a big difference between 18 flowers (Sincere Heart) and 17 flowers (Happy ending, leaving each other on good terms.) Make your meaning clear.
And if you want to create a more powerful impression? Write it in Chinese!
Want more? If you want to write the Chinese symbols, I made a downloadable PDF file for you. It has all the Chinese translations of the Chinese flower meanings, and it's designed to work on your screen or printer even if you don't have the Chinese language set installed on your operating system. You can also find the meanings all the way up to 999 flowers and beyond. Take a look at http://www.my-new-chinese-love.com/FlowerDownload
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Jeff Cappleman is the heart and soul behind http://www.my-new-chinese-love.com - your introduction to Chinese culture, relationships, food and language.
You might be surprised to know that when you give a bouquet of flowers to a Chinese person, she may pick up on a hidden meaning - whether you intend it or not.
The type of flower and the number of flowers in the arrangement have special significance in Chinese culture. Your gift of flowers says more than just "I love you." Other meanings include:"I'm sorry," or "Will you marry me?"
...So choose carefully!
And keep in mind that while many people know the special meaning, not everyone in China does. And to top it off, some Chinese people may attach a different, alternate meaning than what appears below. There is not one universally recognized meaning for each number.
So how can you play it safe? How do you make sure she gets your true intention? Easy! Just write your meaning onto the card that goes with the flowers. That way, she'll understand your message and it will match the number of flowers in the bouquet.
Before you read the examples below, keep in mind that the English phrases are sometimes clumsy or awkward sounding. Why? It's because the Chinese words are very poetic and often contains multiple sub-meanings, puns and rhythms which don't translate into English.
Chinese flower number meanings:
* 1 flower: I love only you. You, and only you, are in my heart.
* 2 flowers: In my mind, I just think of you and me.
* 3 flowers: I love you.
* 4 flowers: Promise of love.
* 5 flowers: No regrets with you.
* 6 flowers: I hope everything goes your way.
* 7 flowers: I feel happy when I'm with you.
* 8 flowers: I apologize. Please forgive me.
* 9 flowers: No regrets. Forever with you in love.
* 10 flowers: Perfect love.
* 11 flowers: Single-minded focus on your happiness. Concentrating on you with all my heart and soul.
* 12 flowers:Soul connection.
* 13 flowers: A secret admirer.
* 15 flowers: I'm sorry.
* 17 flowers: Happy ending, leaving each other on good terms.
* 18 flowers: Sincere heart.
* 19 flowers: Looking forward to being with you.
* 20 flowers: Forever loving you with an unchanging heart.
* 21 flowers: You are my best love.
* 22 flowers: (Double 2: This number is very popular in China, because a happy couple is 2 people (double happiness). Since the number 22 has 2 two's, it's especially meaningful.) In love to no end.
* 24 flowers: I miss you. I'm thinking about you.
* 25 flowers: Good luck.
* 30 flowers: Our love goes beyond words.
* 33 flowers: I will always love you...for many years, and for very long.
* 36 flowers:My heart belongs to you.
* 44 flowers: I promise my steady love for you.
* 50 flowers: No regrets.
* 55 flowers:I love you with no regrets.
* 56 flowers: My love.
* 60 flowers: Our love is very steady, strong and stable.
* 66 flowers: True steady love. Good mood.
Again, make sure you write your intended meaning onto the card that goes with the bouquet. There's a big difference between 18 flowers (Sincere Heart) and 17 flowers (Happy ending, leaving each other on good terms.) Make your meaning clear.
And if you want to create a more powerful impression? Write it in Chinese!
Want more? If you want to write the Chinese symbols, I made a downloadable PDF file for you. It has all the Chinese translations of the Chinese flower meanings, and it's designed to work on your screen or printer even if you don't have the Chinese language set installed on your operating system. You can also find the meanings all the way up to 999 flowers and beyond. Take a look at http://www.my-new-chinese-love.com/FlowerDownload
--
Jeff Cappleman is the heart and soul behind http://www.my-new-chinese-love.com - your introduction to Chinese culture, relationships, food and language.
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