婚姻

• Pinyin: hūn yīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 婚 = 女 + 昏 (woman + dusk, referring to ancient evening wedding ceremonies); 姻 = 女 + 因 (woman + cause/reason, marriage based on family arrangement)

Meaning

Marriage; the legal and social union between two people as spouses. The institution of matrimony encompassing rights, duties, and family formation.

Refers to both the institution of marriage and the state of being married. In Chinese culture, marriage traditionally involves family approval, dowry arrangements, and extensive ceremonies. Modern discourse around 婚姻 addresses changing attitudes among younger generations toward marriage, rising divorce rates, and evolving legal frameworks around marital property.

Examples

1. 幸福的婚姻需要双方共同经营，相互理解和包容是维系长久感情的关键所在。 A happy marriage takes effort from both partners; mutual understanding and tolerance are key to keeping a relationship strong over the long term.
2. 随着社会观念的转变，越来越多的年轻人选择推迟婚姻，优先追求个人职业发展。 As social attitudes change, more and more young people are choosing to delay marriage and prioritize their careers.
3. 法院在判决婚姻财产纠纷时，需综合考量双方的贡献与实际需求，力求做到公平合理。 When ruling on marital property disputes, the court must weigh both parties’ contributions and real needs to ensure a fair and reasonable outcome.

Usage Guide

Context: family, law, society, relationships

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 婚姻登记处已将结婚和离婚手续全面数字化，当事人只需在网上预约，便可在规定时间内完成相关证件的办理，大大简化了流程。(The marriage registry has fully digitised procedures for both marriage and divorce registration; parties simply need to make an appointment online and complete the relevant paperwork within the allotted time, greatly simplifying the process.)
• 研究表明，步入婚姻之前接受专业的婚前辅导，有助于双方更清晰地认识彼此的价值观与期望，从而有效提高婚姻的幸福感与稳定性。(Research shows that receiving professional pre-marital counselling before entering marriage helps both parties more clearly understand each other's values and expectations, effectively increasing marital happiness and stability.)

Don't Say

• 婚姻 in casual speech for a brief romantic relationship — use 恋爱 or 交往; 婚姻 specifically denotes the formal institution of marriage, not romantic relationships in general

Origin & History

婚 (marriage at evening/dusk ceremonies) + 姻 (marriage by family arrangement — 因 cause/basis + 女 woman)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal