(photo by Puno 3000 via Flickr.com)
Does this Chinese man like me? This is hands-down the number one question that women ask me every month.
Now, I’m not singling out this question — and, by extension, the e-mailers who ask it — to embarrass them! Who in love hasn’t experienced that uncertainty, when they’re not quite sure what’s going on and they crave a little reassurance? Besides, as I tell people, I’m a hopeless romantic and actually dig reading questions like this, which always come with these fantastic stories rife with the potential for incredible love. It’s a gift that readers share this with me!
But as I was reading my FAQs recently — which include this question, among others — I realized that, perhaps, the answers I’ve posted could use some updating and simplifying. Which would make things easier for women trying to know what’s going on with a certain guy in their life.
Just keep in mind that the following advice comes with a caveat — that I’m speaking mainly about men born and raised in Asia. If you’re dealing with a guy who grew up in a Western country (say, a Chinese-Canadian or Chinese-American), just remember that in most cases, they approach dating pretty much like you.
All that said…so how do you know if he’s into you?
Time. As in, how much time he’s with you. When Chinese men like you, they tend to go out of their way to spend heroic amounts of time with you. They’ll escort you to and from all your classes or out to your car. They’ll ride with you on the bus all the way to your apartment (and make sure you’re safely inside). They’ll give you rides in their car that are totally out of their way, just because they want to be with you that much longer. They’ll spend their entire weekends only with you (perhaps to the point that you might wonder if he’s actually pissing off his friends, who have no chance to see him).
Talk. As in, how much he communicates with you. Chinese men who are into you will generally make time to contact you frequently — if not every day, then several times a week. He’ll call or text you every single evening to wish you a good night or make sure you’re home safe. He’ll e-mail you every day or every other day to see how you are. He’ll make time to Skype or video chat with you on a weekly basis.
When you really think about it, this really isn’t different from what any guy interested in you would probably do — make lots of time for you, and talk to you a lot.
The main difference is something I mentioned before in my post about Indirect Dating and Chinese Men — that, in general, they aren’t going to discuss love and dating directly with you. In Chinese culture, people prefer to show their interest or affection. I think this is what trips so many women up — that they’re waiting for that verbal reassurance, when it’s just not going to come. If he is into you, the relationship will probably transition into something more serious rather organically — with a kiss, a touch or holding hands — instead of some sudden declaration of love.
So if you’re hoping for an “I love you” confession from him anytime soon, good luck. It took my own husband years before he could tell me “I love you” in English, and many, many more years after that before he could say the same thing in Chinese.
Instead, pay attention to his actions and not his words. And then you just might feel the love in the way he walks you to your car or your class, or calls you at night to make sure you’re safe at home. 
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Do you have a question about life, dating, marriage and family in China/Chinese culture (or Western culture)? Send me yours today.
Haha…my husband must be a different kind of Chinese man. He was never really the type to go out of his way to pick me up at the airport or train station (which I never felt I needed…I’d just meet him at home and save him the trip!) and we spend a good amount of time apart as well as together (when we were dating, as well). But I do appreciate that…I like that we’re both independent and I have time with my girls while he can go off with his friends or coworkers. When we were dating, my husband never really texted or called me everyday. He did email me almost everyday when we were in different countries for 6 months, though.
I do agree that you really have to read into the actions of Chinese men rather than their words. Especially things that show they remember what you said in the past.
Michelle recently posted..When In Doubt, Test It Out!
Thank you for this post, I was actually thinking of emailing you this exact question, ha ha!!
I’ve been reading all of your posts since a few month and searching the archives for a better understanding of a guy I’m really interested in who’s from China. I already have a hard time navigating Western dating, ha ha! But with this guy, I’m always in doubt as to what I can and cannot say and do, because I’m scared of how he will perceive me. I’m almost sure he is interested as well, but I don’t know what I can do to help take the relationship to the next stage and show him my appreciation, it’s been going at such at slow (albeit very interesting) pace… I’m at a point where I feel I’m ready to take it to the next level and I’m getting a little bit frustrated.
So thank you for your insight, I’m learning a lot about Chinese culture through your blog.
Best wishes
Sweet answers. These answers just confirmed that the guy I liked doesn’t like me back. Ah well, knew it inside anyways. Thanks though.
Sveta recently posted..Book Review of The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri
My fiancé definitely spends a lot of time with me and we talk a lot, but he was the one to say “I love you” first one week into dating. He can be quite outspoken about his feelings and I’ve met both types of men here, the outspoken ones and opposite.
When he gets mad at me (发脾气) or we have an argument he’ll treat me to dinner and/or will make time for me when he would have to work in the evening as an apology.
chinaelevatorstories recently posted..The last days of fall, the beginning of winter
Overlooked the dating reality for the new generations in China. Things changed quite a bit in one generation.
College students are more westernized these days. When they go into society, the priority is to start a family. You will be fooled to think most Chinese men still fit into traditional images of being indirect. It really depends on the person and where that person lives.
One thing I came across in China and Hong Kong many years ago was that men would casually talk about taking me somewhere in China that wasn’t close by, but at least a two-hour flight away. We’d be talking about say, Sichuan, and a guy would say, “We should go there” or “I’d love to show you around Chongqing” or something like that. While it seemed quite bold, I realized after a while that it was just polite talk. So the advice to look at actions over words is excellent!
Susan Blumberg-Kason recently posted..Book of the week–The Secret of the Nightingale Palace
Interestingly, “How to know if Korean guy likes me?” is also the most common question I get on my blog.
It’s really difficult to be in love and not sure if you’re in for a heartache or the most magical time of your life.
Oegukeen from Loving Korean recently posted..Should I learn Korean language to have a Korean boyfriend?
In the west, rhetoric matters a lot more. A Chinese guy might not care about the words you wish to hear. That is the cultural difference.
In the past , if I liked a woman I would like to know her more and more because we dated to get married
.. Yes , we just pay more attention to women who we like. It’s all true!! That’s why we are different from other men who only use sweet talks and cheap words. Sweet talks and cheap words actually work though and women fall for it quickly. Of course, if you have actions and sweet words , more power to you. So before you leave the house, rinse your mouth with honey. Damn you’re be dynamic!!
Before I leave my office, I just want to say give that asian/chinese guy a chance. Majority of them do want to date and get married. One spoiled apple doesn’t mean we are all players! One asian guy I knew was one of the sweetest guys out there. He got dumped by his gf so after that he just became a player . He picked up extremely beautiful women from Latinas ,black women to white women. He is married now. He said he felt so lonely even though he was with all those women. Seriously!!!! Chinese men are very different! We don’t just go out on the street and talk to women trying to get their #’s and bring them home and you know what… If you women out there who want to have family values and respect etc, Chinese/Asian men should be on your “hot list”. I know I I know you want a muscular, built, tall man and show him off in public holding hands and show him off to your friends for approval right? If you only base on that, I’m sorry but you know we all age and can’t maintain our physique for long. When I say this… that doesn’t mean I’m fat or skinny..
May I add that spending time a lot and talking a lot are clearly signs that someone likes you. But he/she may like you as a friend. Only when he/she feels comfortable and responses to physical touching should you conclude he/she likes you more than just a friend.
lol Take myself as an example of encountering a cute Caucasian girl, I would literally gaze at her for a long time when walking by. Not sure if it’s appropriate, but I tend to ignore all the Asian girls’ presence and look past them to the particular Caucasian gal in eyes. In that way I think I could stand out the fact I’m not that kind of Asian guy who’s into Asian girls.
In general, I would say that these signs are somehow international. If he likes you he will act that way.
Is pretty easy to know when someone is just playing around or really into you.
It took me more than a while to notice things like him going out of his way to do things for me – made me feel so bad when I started realising and looking back at things that had happened
One thing that infuriates me is when they decide not to contact you and expect you to carry on as normal. I can’t talk about this too much because it will put me in a bad mood! haha
great post! i decided to comment to let you know i’ve been reading your blog for months now and love the stuff you’re sharing with the world. i’m an abc guy, so not the audience group you discuss, but so much of it is relatable and interesting
If you are not sure, find a chance and kiss him.
If you are sure he likes you, well, charm him into marrying you.
I would add, does he give you little presents? For a while when I met my husband at first I liked him but didn’t know how he thought about me, but he would randomly (I thought) give me presents like a bookmark from a trip, a drink or snack in class, a potted plant for Thanksgiving day, etc. As he kept giving me little presents it helped me realize his feelings more. Good luck!
[...] Ask the Yangxifu: Does He Like Me? Signs a Chinese Man Might Be Into You (Speaking of [...]
If a man from Asia likes you, he will want to tag along naturally rather than direct asking out. As in, start off with friends first before anything. I’ve heard from Foreign women how guys in Taiwan (and throughout China and Asia to an extent) are comparably shy. The thinking from the Asian guy’s perspective is he wants to pursue friendship first and won’t say or do things to jeopardize that level of relationship. Like if he can’t be your lover, at least he’ll be your friend or some type of acquaintance.
A lot of times, dating a man from Asia is more like hanging out with a friend than being pamper by a boyfriend (sort of). In time, if a man from Asia gets more closer to you, he will start showing more paternal characteristics. Like he will start nagging over little things, or being overly watchful (as if he is more like your father or older brother). Sometimes, it can be overwhelming and sometimes guys from Asia need to tone it down. But overall, it isn’t that bad cause along with those paternal characteristics, he will be more attentive, and do a lot of little to small things to show he cares. At the level of the relationship, even though it’s still dating, if you get to that part, it will seem as if he already considers you his other special half.
I’m generalizing quite a lot but more or less, a lot of guys are kind of like this.
Actually, ignore my recent post.