fūqī: 夫妻 - Husband and Wife, Married Couple

• Keywords: fuqi, fūqī, 夫妻, husband and wife in Chinese, married couple in Chinese, Chinese marriage, 夫 meaning, 妻 meaning, fuqi vs qinglv, Chinese family culture
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 夫妻 (fūqī), the fundamental Chinese word for a “husband and wife” or “married couple.” This term is more than a simple label; it represents a core cultural concept of partnership, shared responsibility, and social harmony in China. Learn the breakdown of the characters 夫 (fū) and 妻 (qī), see how it's used in everyday conversation and formal settings, and understand its deep significance in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fūqī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A married couple; husband and wife.
• In a Nutshell: 夫妻 (fūqī) is the standard and most common way to refer to a married couple as a single unit. It carries a sense of a formal, recognized bond and a shared life. Think of it not just as “a husband and a wife” but as “the husband-and-wife entity.”

• 夫 (fū): This character originally depicted a grown man with a pin in his hair, signifying adulthood. It means “man,” “husband,” or “master.” It represents the husband's role in the pair.
• 妻 (qī): This character is a combination of a woman (女) and a hand (手), originally depicting a woman being taken in marriage. It means “wife.”
• Together, 夫妻 (fūqī) combines these two essential roles into one compound word. It emphasizes the idea of a balanced, complementary pair that forms the foundation of a family. The word itself suggests a complete and inseparable unit.

In Chinese culture, the concept of 夫妻 (fūqī) is a cornerstone of social structure. It goes beyond the Western ideal of a romantic partnership and carries significant weight related to family, society, and harmony. While in the West, a marriage is often seen as the culmination of a romantic relationship between two individuals, the traditional Chinese perspective views the 夫妻 unit as the fundamental building block of the family, and by extension, a stable society. The union is not just about the two people involved but also about the joining of two families, the continuation of the family line (传宗接代, chuánzōngjiēdài), and fulfilling social responsibilities. A key cultural ideal associated with 夫妻 is 相敬如宾 (xiāngjìngrúbīn), which translates to “treating each other with the respect due to a guest.” This might sound cold to a Western ear accustomed to ideals of passionate, expressive love. However, it emphasizes a different kind of marital harmony built on mutual respect, politeness, and maintaining a level of decorum and personal space, which is believed to ensure a long-lasting and stable relationship. The focus is on a sustainable, harmonious partnership rather than fleeting passion.

夫妻 (fūqī) is a neutral and widely used term appropriate for almost any situation, from casual conversation to legal documents.

• Referring to a Couple: It's most often used with a measure word like 一对 (yí duì), meaning “a pair of.” For example, “他们是一对夫妻” (Tāmen shì yí duì fūqī) - “They are a married couple.”
• Self-Reference: A couple can refer to themselves as 我们夫妻俩 (wǒmen fūqī liǎ), which means “the two of us (as a couple).” This is a very common and natural-sounding phrase.
• In Set Phrases: The term forms the basis for many other common words and phrases related to marriage:
  • 夫妻相 (fūqīxiàng): The “couple's look,” the idea that couples start to resemble each other over time.
  • 夫妻关系 (fūqī guānxì): The marital relationship.
  • 夫妻生活 (fūqī shēnghuó): Married life, often a euphemism for the couple's intimate life.

The term is neutral in connotation. A couple can be described as an “恩爱夫妻 (ēn'ài fūqī)” (a loving married couple) or a couple with problems. The word itself is simply the label for the relationship status.

• Example 1:
  • 他们是一对恩爱的夫妻。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen shì yí duì ēn'ài de fūqī.
  • English: They are a loving married couple.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common structure for introducing a couple, using the measure word 一对 (yí duì) and an adjective, 恩爱 (ēn'ài), meaning “loving” (specifically for couples).
• Example 2:
  • 我们夫妻俩都觉得这个主意不错。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen fūqī liǎ dōu juéde zhège zhǔyi búcuò.
  • English: The two of us (as a married couple) both think this is a good idea.
  • Analysis: 夫妻俩 (fūqī liǎ) is a very common and colloquial way for a married person to refer to themselves and their spouse as a unit.
• Example 3:
  • 夫妻关系需要双方共同经营。
  • Pinyin: Fūqī guānxì xūyào shuāngfāng gòngtóng jīngyíng.
  • English: A marital relationship requires joint effort from both sides to manage.
  • Analysis: Here, 夫妻 acts as an adjective modifying 关系 (guānxì). This is a common, slightly formal way to discuss the nature of marriage.
• Example 4:
  • 很多人都说他们俩有夫妻相。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén dōu shuō tāmen liǎ yǒu fūqīxiàng.
  • English: Many people say the two of them have that “couple's look.”
  • Analysis: This introduces the popular concept of 夫妻相 (fūqīxiàng), the idea that long-term couples begin to resemble one another physically or in their mannerisms.
• Example 5:
  • 夫妻之间最重要的就是信任和沟通。
  • Pinyin: Fūqī zhījiān zuì zhòngyào de jiùshì xìnrèn hé gōutōng.
  • English: Between a husband and wife, the most important things are trust and communication.
  • Analysis: 夫妻之间 (fūqī zhījiān) is a set phrase meaning “between a husband and wife” and is often used when giving marital advice.
• Example 6:
  • 这对老夫妻已经结婚六十年了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè duì lǎo fūqī yǐjīng jiéhūn liùshí nián le.
  • English: This old married couple has been married for sixty years.
  • Analysis: 老夫妻 (lǎo fūqī) is a warm and respectful term for an elderly married couple.
• Example 7:
  • 他们的夫妻生活很和谐。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de fūqī shēnghuó hěn héxié.
  • English: Their married life is very harmonious.
  • Analysis: 夫妻生活 (fūqī shēnghuó) literally means “husband-wife life.” While it can refer to married life in general, it's often used as a more polite or indirect way to talk about a couple's physical intimacy.
• Example 8:
  • 按照法律，夫妻共同财产应该平分。
  • Pinyin: Ànzhào fǎlǜ, fūqī gòngtóng cáichǎn yīnggāi píngfēn.
  • English: According to the law, a married couple's joint property should be divided equally.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 夫妻 in a formal, legal context.
• Example 9:
  • 他们是患难与共的夫妻。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen shì huànnàn yǔ gòng de fūqī.
  • English: They are a married couple who have shared weal and woe.
  • Analysis: The idiom 患难与共 (huànnàn yǔ gòng) means to go through thick and thin together. Pairing it with 夫妻 creates a powerful image of a strong, tested marriage.
• Example 10:
  • 有句老话说：“夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞。”
  • Pinyin: Yǒu jù lǎohuà shuō: “Fūqī běn shì tóng lín niǎo, dà nàn lín tóu gè zì fēi.”
  • English: There's an old saying: “A husband and wife are like birds in the same forest, but they fly their separate ways when disaster strikes.”
  • Analysis: This famous, somewhat cynical proverb provides cultural insight. While the ideal is lifelong partnership, this saying acknowledges the fragility of human relationships under extreme pressure. It's often used with a sigh.

The most critical mistake for English speakers is confusing 夫妻 (fūqī) with 情侣 (qínglǚ).

• Fūqī vs. Qínglǚ:
  • 夫妻 (fūqī): Exclusively for a legally married couple.
  • 情侣 (qínglǚ): For a romantic couple that is dating but not married. Boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • `John and Mary have been dating for a year, they are a nice 夫妻.` (WRONG)
  • Correction: `John and Mary have been dating for a year, they are a nice 情侣.` (CORRECT)
• Referring to Individuals:
  • 夫妻 refers to the couple as a unit. You do not use it to refer to the individuals. To say “my husband” or “my wife,” you must use other words.
  • `My fūqī is a doctor.` (WRONG)
  • Correction: `My husband (我老公/我丈夫) is a doctor.` or `My wife (我老婆/我妻子) is a doctor.`

• 情侣 (qínglǚ) - A romantic couple (unmarried); boyfriend and girlfriend. The direct counterpart to 夫妻 for those who are not married.
• 夫妇 (fūfù) - A more formal, literary synonym for 夫妻. Often used in writing and formal speech.
• 结婚 (jiéhūn) - The verb “to get married.” This is the action that turns a 情侣 into a 夫妻.
• 婚姻 (hūnyīn) - The noun for “marriage” as an institution or state of being.
• 老公 (lǎogōng) - A very common, informal term for “husband.” Like “hubby.”
• 老婆 (lǎopó) - A very common, informal term for “wife.” Like “wifey.”
• 丈夫 (zhàngfu) - A more formal term for “husband.” Used on official forms and in serious contexts.
• 妻子 (qīzi) - A more formal term for “wife.” The direct counterpart to 丈夫.
• 爱人 (àiren) - Literally “lover.” In Mainland China, it is often used to mean “spouse,” but its usage can be ambiguous and is less common among younger generations. It's safer to stick with the other terms.
• 配偶 (pèi'ǒu) - “Spouse.” This is a very formal and legal term, used on official documents.