When learning a new language, it’s crucial to acquaint yourself with everyday vocabulary, including expressions related to love and relationships. If you’re curious about how to say “marry” in Chinese, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will explore formal and informal ways of expressing this concept, while also providing tips, examples, and highlighting regional variations.
Table of Contents
1. Formal Ways of Saying “Marry” in Chinese
When it comes to formal language, Chinese offers several words and phrases to convey the idea of “marry.” Here are the most widely used ways:
- 结婚 (jié hūn): This is the standard term to express “to marry” in Chinese. It is used in both written and spoken language. For example, you could say “我要结婚了” (Wǒ yào jié hūn le), which means “I am getting married!”
- 喜结连理 (xǐ jié lián lǐ): This is a slightly more formal way of saying “to marry” and conveys the idea of a joyous union. You might hear this phrase in formal ceremonies or wedding speeches.
- 大婚 (dà hūn): This term specifically refers to a grand or big wedding. It emphasizes the significance and scale of the marriage event.
2. Informal Ways of Saying “Marry” in Chinese
Informal language is often used among friends and in casual settings. When discussing marriage with close acquaintances, you can use these more relaxed expressions:
- 结婚了 (jié hūn le): By simply adding “了” (le) at the end of “结婚” (jié hūn), you have a more colloquial way of saying “to marry.” For example, you could say “我们结婚了” (Wǒmen jié hūn le), meaning “We got married!”
- 嫁 (jià), 娶 (qǔ): These two words specifically refer to the act of marrying a bride and marrying a groom, respectively. They are commonly used in informal conversations or among close friends and family members.
3. Regional Variations
While Mandarin Chinese is the official language in China, there are various regional dialects that may have their own unique expressions. However, it’s important to note that the standard formal and informal terms mentioned earlier are widely understood throughout the country. Here are a few regional variations:
Cantonese:
In Cantonese, the most widely spoken Chinese dialect in southern China, one way of saying “marry” is “結婚 (git wun).” It is similar to the Mandarin term, but with slight pronunciation differences.
Taiwanese:
In Taiwanese Hokkien, commonly spoken in Taiwan, the term for “marry” is “許婚 (khóo-hūn).” This expression differs significantly from Mandarin but is widely understood in the Taiwanese context.
4. Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you understand and utilize the concept of “marry” in Chinese:
- When using the formal expression “结婚 (jié hūn),” it’s common to mention the people involved. For instance, “我的朋友要结婚了” (Wǒ de péngyǒu yào jié hūn le) translates to “My friend is getting married!”
- Informally, you can use “我要结婚了” (Wǒ yào jié hūn le) to communicate “I’m getting married!” Remember to add emphasis while pronouncing “了” (le) to convey excitement.
- When informing someone of your own marriage plans, you can use the simple phrase “我要结婚了” (Wǒ yào jié hūn le) or “我要嫁人了” (Wǒ yào jià rén le) for females and “我要娶人了” (Wǒ yào qǔ rén le) for males.
- Don’t forget to congratulate someone on their marriage using the phrase “恭喜你结婚了” (Gōngxǐ nǐ jié hūn le) or simply “恭喜” (Gōngxǐ), which means “Congratulations!”
Congratulations on embarking on this language learning journey to discover how to say “marry” in Chinese. With these formal and informal expressions, regional variations, and helpful tips, you’ll be able to engage comfortably in conversations related to marriage. Enjoy exploring the rich culture and linguistic diversity of the Chinese language!
