新娘

• Pinyin: xīn niáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 新 = 亲 (kin) + 斤 (axe, phonetic); 娘 = 女 (woman) + 良 (good, phonetic)

Meaning

Bride; the woman getting married in a wedding ceremony.

Refers to the female partner in a wedding, especially on the wedding day itself. Often paired with 新郎 (groom). In traditional Chinese weddings, the bride wears red; in modern ceremonies she may wear white. The term is used in the context of weddings and celebrations.

Examples

1. 婚礼上，新娘穿着白色婚纱，看起来非常美丽。 At the wedding, the bride wore a white wedding dress and looked extremely beautiful.
2. 新郎去迎接新娘的时候，朋友们在门口出了很多难题。 When the groom went to pick up the bride, friends at the door gave him many challenges to complete.
3. 新娘捧着一束鲜花，缓缓走进婚礼现场，大家都鼓掌欢迎。 The bride carried a bouquet of flowers and slowly walked into the wedding venue, and everyone applauded to welcome her.

Usage Guide

Context: wedding, family, celebration

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 今天的新娘真的太漂亮了！(Today's bride is truly so beautiful!)
• 新郎和新娘交换了戒指，正式成为夫妻。(The groom and bride exchanged rings and officially became husband and wife.)

Don't Say

• 泛指所有结婚后的女性为新娘。(Don't call a woman 新娘 after the wedding day is over — use 妻子 or 太太 for a wife in general.)

Origin & History

Compound of 新 (new) and 娘 (young woman/mother), literally 'new woman' — a woman entering a new stage of life through marriage.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal