Meaning and Usage
"女朋友" (nǚpéngyou) specifically means "girlfriend" in the romantic sense. It refers to a female partner in a dating relationship. This term is very common in everyday conversation when talking about one's romantic partner.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "女朋友" used when discussing plans, feelings, or activities involving a girlfriend. For example, talking about going out together, describing preferences, or asking about her well-being.
Collocations and Patterns
- 女朋友 + verb (e.g., 女朋友喜欢, 女朋友去) — to describe actions or preferences of the girlfriend.
- 和女朋友一起 + verb (e.g., 和女朋友一起看电影) — to express doing something together with the girlfriend.
- 你的女朋友怎么样？ — a common way to ask about someone's girlfriend.
Register and Tone
"女朋友" is informal and neutral, suitable for casual conversations among friends, family, or colleagues. It is not used in formal writing or to refer to a female friend without romantic implication.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "女朋友" with "女性朋友" which means "female friend" without romantic meaning. "女朋友" always implies a romantic relationship.