爱人

àiren

spouse (PRC)

HSK 3

漢字分解

Meaning and Usage

The word '爱人' primarily means 'spouse'—either husband or wife—in everyday Chinese. It is a formal or neutral term used to refer to one's married partner. However, in some contexts, especially in literary or older usage, '爱人' can also mean 'lover' or 'romantic partner' without necessarily implying marriage.

Common Collocations

  • 爱人 (my spouse and I): used to talk about oneself and their partner.
  • 爱人关系 (spousal relationship): refers to the relationship between spouses.
  • 亲爱爱人 (dear spouse): a tender way to address one's partner.

Usage Notes

When using '爱人' in conversation, it often implies a formal or respectful tone. For casual speech, people might say '老公' (husband) or '老婆' (wife). Be aware that '爱人' can sometimes cause confusion because it can mean 'lover' in contexts where the relationship is not formalized by marriage. To avoid ambiguity, specify the context or use other terms if necessary.

Common Confusion

'爱人' vs. '':

  • '爱人' often implies a legal or formal relationship (spouse).
  • '' specifically means 'lover' or 'boyfriend/girlfriend' without marriage.

Understanding this distinction helps in choosing the right word for the relationship you want to describe.

例文

他是我的爱人,我们结婚五年了。

Tā shì wǒ de àiren, wǒmen jiéhūn wǔ nián le.

He is my spouse; we have been married for five years.

她和她的爱人一起去旅行了。

Tā hé tā de àiren yīqǐ qù lǚxíng le.

She went traveling together with her partner.

在中文里,‘爱人’有时也指恋人。

Zài zhōngwén lǐ, ‘àiren’ yǒu shí yě zhǐ liànrén.

In Chinese, ‘爱人’ can sometimes also mean lover.