男朋友

• Pinyin: nán péng you
• Hanzi breakdown: 男 = 田 (field) + 力 (strength); 朋 = two 月 (moon/flesh), meaning friend; 友 = two hands, meaning companion

Meaning

Boyfriend. A male romantic partner.

The standard word for boyfriend in modern Chinese. Composed of 男 (male) + 朋友 (friend). The female counterpart is 女朋友 (girlfriend). Used commonly among younger generations.

Examples

1. 她有男朋友了。 She has a boyfriend.
2. 你男朋友是做什么的？ What does your boyfriend do?
3. 我还没有男朋友。 I don't have a boyfriend yet.

Usage Guide

Context: relationship, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她男朋友对她很好。(Her boyfriend treats her very well.)
• 你有没有男朋友？(Do you have a boyfriend?)

Don't Say

• 对长辈直接问有没有男朋友。(Asking elders about their romantic status can be intrusive — be mindful of the context and relationship)

Origin & History

A modern compound of 男 (male) and 朋友 (friend), literally 'male friend' that has taken on the specific meaning of romantic partner.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal