Chinese word

彩礼

Pronunciation

Pinyincǎi lǐ

Meaning

  • nounbride price

Example

在这个地区，男方要付彩礼。zài zhè ge dì qū nán fāng yào fù cái lǐ

In this area, the man has to pay a bride price.

Illustration for 彩礼 (bride price)

More examples

了解当地的彩礼习俗对婚礼很有帮助。liáo jiě dāng dì de cái lǐ xí sú duì hūn lǐ hěn yǒu bāng zhù

Understanding the local bride-price customs is very helpful for weddings.

Core concept

A formal marriage gift or payment from the groom's family to the bride's family, marking a commitment between the two families.

Common phrases

  • 收彩礼shōu cái lǐ

    accept bride price

  • 给彩礼gěi cái lǐ

    pay bride price

  • 彩礼习俗cái lǐ xí sú

    bride-price customs

Similar words

聘金pìn jīn: A payment from the future husband's family to the future wife's family when agreeing to a marriage.
聘礼pìn lǐ: Gifts or money from the groom's family to the bride's family for a wedding.
嫁妆jià zhuāng: Furniture, cash, or other property that a bride's family gives her to take into marriage.

Definition in Chinese

彩礼是民间婚礼习俗中男方家庭向女方家庭表示婚姻承诺的金钱或物品，其金额和形式随地区、时代及家庭习惯而不同。cái lǐ shì mín jiān hūn lǐ xí sú zhōng nán fāng jiā tíng xiàng nǚ fāng jiā tíng biǎo shì hūn yīn chéng nuò de jīn qián huò wù pǐn qí jīn é hé xíng shì suí dì qū shí dài jí jiā tíng xí guàn ér bù tóng

Word origin

彩礼 (cǎilǐ, "betrothal gifts") combines 彩 (cǎi, "auspicious adornment") with 礼 (lǐ, "ceremonial gift"), presenting the custom as a formal and meaningful exchange.

Usage tips

  • The closest English label can sound like a purchase price, but this Chinese term covers both money and goods and does not imply one fixed amount or format.

Other meanings

  • betrothal giftsnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word