Chinese word

配偶

Pronunciation

Pinyinpèi ǒu

Meaning

  • nounspouse

Example

他的配偶在国外工作。tā de pèi ǒu zài guó wài gōng zuò

His spouse works abroad.

Illustration for 配偶 (spouse)

More examples

申请贷款时，银行会询问配偶的收入情况。shēn qǐng dài kuǎn shí yín háng huì xún wèn pèi ǒu de shōu rù qíng kuàng

When applying for a loan, the bank may ask about the spouse's income.

Core concept

One person in a marriage viewed as the other member of a lasting pair.

Common phrases

  • 配偶继承权pèi ǒu jì chéng quán

    spousal inheritance rights

  • 配偶同意书pèi ǒu tóng yì shū

    spouse consent form

  • 配偶证件pèi ǒu zhèng jiàn

    spouse identification documents

Similar words

伴侣bàn lǚ: A life partner in a close relationship built around sharing life together.
对象duì xiàng: The person someone is seeing or has in mind as a possible dating or marriage partner.
爱人ài rén: A cherished person in a romantic relationship, including a husband or wife.

Definition in Chinese

与自己结为夫妻或形成婚姻关系的人。yǔ zì jǐ jié wèi fū qī huò xíng chéng hūn yīn guān xì de rén

Word origin

配偶 (pèiǒu, "spouse") is formed from 配 (pèi, "match") + 偶 (ǒu, "paired counterpart"), linking the ideas of matching and forming a pair.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this noun often sounds formal, while more familiar family or relationship terms are common in relaxed speech; it fits forms, legal matters, and news especially well.

Other meanings

  • partnernoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 配偶权pèi ǒu quánspousal rightsnoun
  • 配偶继承权pèi ǒu jì chéng quánspousal inheritance rightsnoun

Word lists with this word