qiúhūn: 求婚 - To Propose Marriage, Marriage Proposal

• Keywords: qiuhun, 求婚, propose marriage in Chinese, Chinese marriage proposal, how to say propose in Chinese, Chinese engagement, asking to marry in Chinese, qiú hūn meaning, Chinese wedding traditions
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 求婚 (qiúhūn), the Chinese term for “to propose marriage.” This comprehensive guide explores not just the translation, but the rich cultural context behind a modern Chinese marriage proposal. Learn how traditional family values blend with Western-style romance, see practical example sentences, and understand key related concepts like engagement (订婚 dìnghūn) and the formal family proposal (提亲 tíqīn).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qiúhūn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To formally ask for someone's hand in marriage; a marriage proposal.
• In a Nutshell: 求婚 (qiúhūn) is the specific act of one person asking another to marry them, very similar to the Western concept of a “marriage proposal.” It is an event, often planned to be romantic and surprising, involving a ring and the question “Will you marry me?”. While the event itself is modern, it exists within a larger cultural framework where family approval and future stability are still paramount.

• 求 (qiú): This character means “to seek,” “to request,” or “to beg for.” Think of it as an earnest and formal request for something important.
• 婚 (hūn): This character means “marriage” or “wedding.” It's composed of the “woman” radical 女 (nǚ) on the left and a phonetic component 昏 (hūn), which means “dusk.” This hints at the ancient tradition of holding wedding ceremonies at dusk.
• Together, 求婚 (qiúhūn) literally translates to “to seek a marriage,” perfectly capturing the essence of a marriage proposal.

The modern, romantic 求婚 (qiúhūn) is a relatively new phenomenon in China, heavily influenced by Western films and media. It has become an almost expected stepping stone for urban, middle-class couples. Traditionally, marriages were arranged by families through a matchmaker (媒人 méirén). The key event was not a romantic proposal between the couple, but a formal proposal between the families, known as 提亲 (tíqīn). This involved the groom's family visiting the bride's family with gifts to formally ask for the union and discuss practical matters like the betrothal gift, or “bride price” (彩礼 cǎilǐ). In modern China, a fascinating blend of these two concepts exists. A young man might plan a very lavish, Western-style 求婚 for his girlfriend—complete with a surprise, a diamond ring, and friends filming the event. However, this romantic gesture is often preceded or quickly followed by serious discussions with both sets of parents. The family-to-family 提亲 (tíqīn) might still happen, though it's often less of a formal negotiation and more of a celebratory meeting to bless the union and plan the future. Unlike in the West where a proposal can sometimes be a complete surprise to everyone, in China, it's more common that the couple has already had serious discussions about marriage and their families are aware of the relationship's direction. The 求婚 then serves as the romantic and official “kick-off” to the formal engagement and wedding planning process.

求婚 (qiúhūn) is used in the same way “propose” or “proposal” is used in English, but exclusively for marriage.

• As a Verb: It's often used with the structure 向 (xiàng) + [person] + 求婚, meaning “to propose to [person].”
  • e.g., 他向她求婚了。 (Tā xiàng tā qiúhūn le.) - He proposed to her.
• As a Noun: It can refer to the event itself.
  • e.g., 他的求婚很浪漫。 (Tā de qiúhūn hěn làngmàn.) - His proposal was very romantic.
• On Social Media: The “proposal” event is a huge deal on Chinese social media platforms like WeChat Moments (朋友圈) and Xiaohongshu (小红书). People share elaborate photos and videos of their 求婚, celebrating the milestone publicly with friends and family. The grander and more creative the proposal, the more “face” (面子 miànzi) it can bring.

• Example 1:
  • 他计划在巴黎铁塔下向女朋友求婚。
  • Pinyin: Tā jìhuà zài Bālí Tiětǎ xià xiàng nǚpéngyou qiúhūn.
  • English: He plans to propose to his girlfriend under the Eiffel Tower.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 求婚 as a verb with the structure 向…求婚 (xiàng…qiúhūn).
• Example 2:
  • 昨晚我哥哥求婚成功了！我们全家都很开心。
  • Pinyin: Zuówǎn wǒ gēge qiúhūn chénggōng le! Wǒmen quánjiā dōu hěn kāixīn.
  • English: My older brother's marriage proposal was successful last night! Our whole family is very happy.
  • Analysis: Here, 求婚 (qiúhūn) functions as a verbal noun, the subject of the verb “succeeded” (成功 chénggōng).
• Example 3:
  • 这是一个非常感人的求婚视频。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge fēicháng gǎnrén de qiúhūn shìpín.
  • English: This is a very touching marriage proposal video.
  • Analysis: 求婚 is used as a noun here, modifying “video” (视频 shìpín).
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得他什么时候会向你求婚？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde tā shénme shíhou huì xiàng nǐ qiúhūn?
  • English: When do you think he will propose to you?
  • Analysis: A common question between friends, showing anticipation for the event.
• Example 5:
  • 她答应了他的求婚。
  • Pinyin: Tā dāying le tā de qiúhūn.
  • English: She accepted his marriage proposal.
  • Analysis: 答应 (dāying) means “to agree” or “to accept.” This sentence clearly uses 求婚 as a noun.
• Example 6:
  • 他的求婚方式很特别，他租下了一个电影院。
  • Pinyin: Tā de qiúhūn fāngshì hěn tèbié, tā zū xià le yí ge diànyǐngyuàn.
  • English: His method of proposing was very special; he rented out a movie theater.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 求婚方式 (qiúhūn fāngshì), “proposal method,” highlighting the modern focus on creativity.
• Example 7:
  • 如果没有父母的祝福，他就不敢求婚。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu fùmǔ de zhùfú, tā jiù bù gǎn qiúhūn.
  • English: If he doesn't have his parents' blessing, he doesn't dare to propose.
  • Analysis: This sentence illustrates the cultural importance of family approval in the process.
• Example 8:
  • 看到朋友被求婚，她也开始幻想自己的未来。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào péngyou bèi qiúhūn, tā yě kāishǐ huànxiǎng zìjǐ de wèilái.
  • English: Seeing her friend get proposed to, she also started to fantasize about her own future.
  • Analysis: The passive structure 被求婚 (bèi qiúhūn) means “to be proposed to.”
• Example 9:
  • 准备一场完美的求婚需要花很多心思。
  • Pinyin: Zhǔnbèi yì chǎng wánměi de qiúhūn xūyào huā hěn duō xīnsi.
  • English: Preparing a perfect proposal requires a lot of thought and effort.
  • Analysis: This shows 求婚 as a noun referring to the event. 一场 (yì chǎng) is a measure word for events.
• Example 10:
  • 他单膝跪地，向她求婚，问她：“你愿意嫁给我吗？”
  • Pinyin: Tā dān xī guì dì, xiàng tā qiúhūn, wèn tā: “Nǐ yuànyì jià gěi wǒ ma?”
  • English: He knelt on one knee, proposed to her, and asked her: “Are you willing to marry me?”
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the quintessential modern proposal scene, connecting the action of 求婚 with the words often spoken.

• False Friends: “Propose” an idea vs. “Propose” marriage
  • A very common mistake for learners is to use 求婚 (qiúhūn) to mean “propose an idea” or “suggest a plan.” This is incorrect. 求婚 is only for marriage.
  • To propose an idea, you should use 建议 (jiànyì) or 提议 (tíyì).
  • Incorrect: 我求婚我们今天吃中国菜。(Wǒ qiúhūn wǒmen jīntiān chī Zhōngguó cài.)
  • Correct: 我建议我们今天吃中国菜。(Wǒ jiànyì wǒmen jīntiān chī Zhōngguó cài.) - I suggest we eat Chinese food today.
• `求婚 (qiúhūn)` vs. `提亲 (tíqīn)`
  • This is a crucial cultural distinction.
  • 求婚 (qiúhūn): The romantic, often surprising event between the couple. It's about love and individualism.
  • 提亲 (tíqīn): The formal, traditional meeting between the two families to officially ask for the marriage and discuss logistics. It's about family, respect, and practicality. While less common in its most traditional form today, the concept of getting the families together for a formal blessing is still very much alive.

• 结婚 (jiéhūn) - To get married. This is the goal and result of a successful 求婚.
• 订婚 (dìnghūn) - To be engaged; engagement. This is the formal status after a proposal is accepted.
• 嫁给我吧 (jià gěi wǒ ba) - “Marry me!” The direct question a man asks a woman during a 求婚. (Literally “Marry to me, okay?”).
• 提亲 (tíqīn) - The formal, family-to-family marriage proposal, a more traditional counterpart to the romantic 求婚.
• 彩礼 (cǎilǐ) - The “bride price” or betrothal gifts given by the groom's family to the bride's family. A topic often discussed around the time of engagement.
• 戒指 (jièzhi) - Ring. The 求婚戒指 (qiúhūn jièzhi) is the engagement ring.
• 未婚夫 (wèihūnfū) - Fiancé (the man who has proposed or been accepted).
• 未婚妻 (wèihūnqī) - Fiancée (the woman who has been proposed to or has accepted).
• 浪漫 (làngmàn) - Romantic. A key adjective used to describe a modern 求婚.