How do i love thee?

We asked a cross-section of people if they say 'I love you' to their parents, spouses and children.

ZHANG XUE

22, salesman, Beijing

"I say 'I love you' to the people I love, including my parents. I live far away from my parents and know that they miss me a lot and that's why, now and then, I feel I need to tell them I love them. I don't find it difficult to say the words and I can see that they're happy and moved when they hear it. But they never say the words back."

CAO LEI

32, teacher, Beijing

"If I say 'I love you' to my parents, they'll be shocked! They'll think something must have happened to me. So I don't want to scare them. Rather, I'd show them my love through actions. That's the sort of love and filial piety their generation is more familiar with. And they can sense it through your behavior. But I'm a teacher, so I encourage my students to express their love more directly to their parents. Everything changes with time."

REN RUOPING

70, retired, Beijing

"When my children and grandchildren were very young, I did say 'I love you' to them. Not anymore. When they're old enough to understand your love for them, it's better for them to sense it through our interaction. It's when they don't understand your feelings for them that you need to say it out loud. I think that's what we Chinese do."

LU JIANLI

56, farmer,

Mashan county, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region

"I have never said 'I love you' to my family, and I don't think I will in the future. Saying it aloud is embarrassing for me. I don't think it's necessary to say it out loud. Actions are more important than words, and I show my love to my family through my deeds. For example, I try my best to take good care of my little grandchildren to show my daughter I love her. In the past, when we were poor, I would visit my parents often and take my children along so they can chat and stay with them. Making my parents happy was the best way to show them my love."