夫妻

• Pinyin: fū qī
• Hanzi breakdown: 夫 = a man with a hairpin; 妻 = 十 + 彐 + 女 — a woman bound in marriage

Meaning

Husband and wife; married couple. Refers to the relationship between two people in a marriage.

Slightly less formal than 夫妇 and more commonly used in everyday conversation. Often used to discuss marital relationships and responsibilities. Appears in expressions like 夫妻关系 (marital relationship) and the dish name 夫妻肺片 (a Sichuan cold dish).

Examples

1. 他们是一对恩爱的夫妻。 They are a loving married couple.
2. 夫妻之间应该互相理解和支持。 Husband and wife should understand and support each other.
3. 这对夫妻一起经营一家小餐馆。 This couple runs a small restaurant together.

Usage Guide

Context: family, relationships

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 夫妻俩每天一起散步。(The married couple takes a walk together every day.)
• 好的夫妻关系需要双方共同努力。(A good marriage requires effort from both sides.)

Don't Say

• 我们是好夫妻 (Somewhat awkward as self-reference — Chinese speakers more naturally say 我们夫妻俩 or 我们两口子 when referring to themselves as a couple)

Origin & History

夫 (husband) + 妻 (wife). A straightforward compound naming both halves of a married couple.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal