恩爱夫妻
ēn ài fū qī
Love birds · trad. 恩愛夫妻
恩爱夫妻 (ēn'ài fūqī) is a common way to describe a deeply affectionate and devoted married couple in Chinese, much like "love birds" in English. It emphasizes their mutual love, harmony, and often, their outward display of affection.
When to use it
Neutral to warm. This term is often used admiringly. For unmarried couples, 恩爱的情侣 (ēn'ài de qínglǚ) is more appropriate. 鸳鸯 (yuānyang), or mandarin ducks, are a poetic and symbolic term for devoted lovers, often used in literature or for wedding themes.
How to pronounce it
Sounds roughly like "un-EYE foo-chee." 恩 (ēn) is a high, flat tone, and 爱 (ài) is a falling tone. 夫 (fū) and 妻 (qī) are both high, flat tones.
Other ways to say it
- 恩爱的情侣ēn ài de qíng lǚloving couple (for unmarried partners)
- 鸳鸯yuān yāngmandarin ducks (symbolic of devoted lovers)
- 小两口xiǎo liǎng kǒuyoung couple (affectionate, often implies newlyweds)
Examples
他们结婚二十年了，还像恩爱夫妻一样。
tā men jié hūn èr shí nián le ， hái xiàng ēn ài fū qī yí yàng 。
They've been married for twenty years and still act like love birds.
这对新婚夫妇真是恩爱。
zhè duì xīn hūn fū fù zhēn shì ēn ài 。
This newlywed couple is truly affectionate/like love birds.
你看那对恩爱的情侣，总是手牵手。
nǐ kàn nà duì ēn ài de qíng lǚ ， zǒng shì shǒu qiān shǒu 。
Look at that loving couple, always holding hands.
Pro tip: While 恩爱夫妻 specifically refers to a married couple, the adjective 恩爱 can be used more broadly to describe any deeply affectionate couple (e.g., 恩爱的情侣). 鸳鸯 is a beautiful, traditional symbol, but less of an everyday descriptive term for a couple.
Related phrases
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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