情侣
qínglǚ
Lovers · trad. 情侶
情侣 (qínglǚ) is the most common and neutral term for "lovers" or a romantic couple in Mandarin Chinese. It typically refers to two people in a romantic relationship who are not yet married.
What does 情侣 (qínglǚ) mean?
情侣 (qínglǚ) means “lovers” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “emotion pair.”
When to use it
Neutral and widely used. For a more poetic or literary feel, 恋人 (liànrén) can be used. 爱人 (àirén) is more intimate and can refer to a lover or a spouse, depending on context. If you want to specify "boyfriend and girlfriend," you can use 男女朋友 (nánnǚ péngyǒu).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "ching-LYOO." The first syllable, 情 (qíng), is like "ching" in "ching-ching" with a rising tone. The second syllable, 侣 (lǚ), is like "loo" but with your lips rounded as if to say "oo" while trying to say "ee" (similar to the 'u' in French 'tu' or German 'für') with a third tone.
Other ways to say it
- 恋人liànrénlovers (more poetic/literary)
- 男女朋友nánnǚ péngyouboyfriend and girlfriend
Examples
他们是一对恩爱的情侣。
tāmen shì yī duì ēn'ài de qínglǚ.
They are a loving couple/lovers.
这对情侣喜欢一起旅行。
zhè duì qínglǚ xǐhuan yīqǐ lǚxíng.
This couple/these lovers enjoy traveling together.
他们穿情侣装。
tāmen chuān qínglǚ zhuāng.
They wear matching couple's outfits.
Pro tip: While 情侣 refers to a romantic couple, it usually implies they are unmarried. For a married couple, the term 夫妻 (fūqī) is used. Also, mastering the 'ü' sound in 侣 can be challenging for English speakers.
Related phrases
中国朋友 · China friends想你 · Miss you星期一 · Monday
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