单身

• Pinyin: dān shēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 单 = single; 身 = body, person

Meaning

Single; unmarried; without a romantic partner.

Common in discussions of relationship status, social demographics, and lifestyle choices. The growing trend of people choosing to remain single in China has given this term increased cultural relevance.

Examples

1. 越来越多的年轻人选择长期单身，享受自由的生活方式。 More and more young people are choosing to stay single long-term and enjoy a freer lifestyle.
2. 他至今仍是单身，专注于事业的发展。 He is still single to this day and is focused on developing his career.
3. 城市里单身人口的持续增加推动了单身经济的繁荣。 The continuing increase in the single population in cities has driven the prosperity of the singles economy.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, lifestyle, social

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她选择单身并不意味着她不幸福。(Her choice to remain single does not mean she is unhappy.)
• 单身生活需要更强的自我管理能力。(A single life requires stronger self-management skills.)

Don't Say

• 我去了一个单身的旅行 — for travelling alone, use 独自旅行; 单身 specifically refers to relationship status, not physical solitude

Origin & History

单 (single, alone) + 身 (body, person, oneself)

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: Millennials, Gen Z

Social background: Universal