Meaning and Usage
"男朋友" (nánpéngyou) specifically means "boyfriend" in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to a male romantic partner in a dating relationship. This term is very common in everyday conversation when talking about personal relationships.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "男朋友" used when discussing someone's romantic life, plans involving a boyfriend, or describing characteristics of a boyfriend. It is a neutral and widely accepted term.
Collocations and Patterns
- "男朋友很喜欢..." (My boyfriend really likes...) — used to describe preferences or hobbies.
- "和男朋友交往" (to date a boyfriend) — describes the relationship status.
- "男朋友会来吗？" (Will the boyfriend come?) — used when asking about attendance or presence.
Notes
"男朋友" is distinct from "丈夫" (husband) and should not be confused with it. It is informal and used for non-married romantic partners. Avoid mixing it with "朋友" alone, which means just "friend" without romantic implication.