Meaning and Usage
"求婚" (qiúhūn) specifically means "to propose marriage" or "to make a marriage proposal." It is a formal term used when one person asks another to marry them.
Common Contexts
This word is often used in romantic contexts, especially describing the moment when someone asks for their partner's hand in marriage. It can be used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Typical Collocations
- 求婚戒指 (qiúhūn jièzhǐ): engagement ring
- 求婚仪式 (qiúhūn yíshì): proposal ceremony
- 求婚成功 (qiúhūn chénggōng): successful proposal
Usage Notes
When using 求婚, the focus is on the act of proposing marriage, not the wedding itself. It is common to see it paired with words related to romance and commitment. Avoid confusing 求婚 with 结婚 (jiéhūn), which means "to get married." 求婚 is the step before 结婚.
Common Confusion
Learners sometimes confuse 求婚 with 结婚. Remember, 求婚 is the proposal, 结婚 is the marriage. Also, 求婚 is usually done by one person to another, so it often appears with verbs or phrases indicating asking or offering.