3 · 40 words

Relationships in Chinese

Neighbours, partners and friends: getting together, falling out and making up.

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From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

Several of the most useful verbs here already contain their own object, so the other person cannot simply follow them: “marry her” is 跟(gēn)她(tā)结婚(jiéhūn), “apologise to him” is 跟(gēn)他(tā)道歉(dàoqiàn). The partner comes first, with 跟(gēn) or 和(hé), and the verb can open up to let something in: 离(lí)了(le)婚(hūn), divorced, 吵(chǎo)了(le)一(yí)架(jià), had a row.

The words

Verb (16)

结婚(jiéhūn)to marry; to get marriedVerb3

他们(tāmen)打算(dǎsuàn)明年(míngnián)结婚(jiéhūn)。They are planning to get married next year.

Separable: marrying someone is 跟(gēn)…结婚(jiéhūn), never with an object after it.

离婚(líhūn)to divorceVerb3

他(tā)父母(fùmǔ)离(lí)了(le)婚(hūn)，但(dàn)还是(háishi)朋友(péngyou)。His parents got divorced but are still friends.

吵架(chǎojià)to quarrel; to have a rowVerb3

他们(tāmen)昨天(zuótiān)因为(yīnwèi)钱(qián)吵(chǎo)了(le)一(yí)架(jià)。Yesterday they had a row about money.

道歉(dàoqiàn)to apologiseVerb3

你(nǐ)应该(yīnggāi)跟(gēn)她(tā)道歉(dàoqiàn)。You ought to apologise to her.

The person comes first: 跟(gēn)…道歉(dàoqiàn) or 向(xiàng)…道歉(dàoqiàn).

原谅(yuánliàng)to forgiveVerb3

对不起(duìbuqǐ)，请(qǐng)原谅(yuánliàng)我(wǒ)。I'm sorry, please forgive me.

分手(fēnshǒu)to break upVerb3

听说(tīngshuō)她(tā)和(hé)男朋友(nánpéngyou)分手(fēnshǒu)了(le)。I hear she has broken up with her boyfriend.

相处(xiāngchǔ)to get along (with)Verb3

她(tā)很(hěn)好(hǎo)相处(xiāngchǔ)，大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)喜欢(xǐhuan)她(tā)。She is very easy to get along with, and everyone likes her.

和好(héhǎo)to make up; to be reconciledVerb3

吵完(chǎowán)架(jià)的(de)第二(dì'èr)天(tiān)，他们(tāmen)就(jiù)和好(héhǎo)了(le)。The day after the row, they made up.

嫁(jià)(of a woman) to marryVerb3

她(tā)嫁(jià)给(gěi)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)德国(Déguó)人(rén)。She married a German.

Said of the woman: 嫁(jià)给(gěi) someone; of the man, 娶(qǔ).

娶(qǔ)(of a man) to marryVerb3

他(tā)娶(qǔ)了(le)大学(dàxué)同学(tóngxué)。He married a classmate from university.

追(zhuī)to chase; to courtVerb3

他(tā)追(zhuī)了(le)她(tā)一(yì)年(nián)，她(tā)才(cái)同意(tóngyì)跟(gēn)他(tā)约会(yuēhuì)。He pursued her for a year before she agreed to go out with him.

交往(jiāowǎng)to associate with; to go out withVerb3

他们(tāmen)交往(jiāowǎng)了(le)两(liǎng)年(nián)才(cái)结婚(jiéhūn)。They were together for two years before they married.

Social contact in general, and also the polite word for seeing someone.

求婚(qiúhūn)to propose (marriage)Verb3

他(tā)在(zài)海边(hǎibiān)向(xiàng)女朋友(nǚpéngyou)求婚(qiúhūn)了(le)。He proposed to his girlfriend on the beach.

失恋(shīliàn)to be crossed in love; to go through a break-upVerb3

他(tā)失恋(shīliàn)了(le)，这(zhè)几(jǐ)天(tiān)心情(xīnqíng)很(hěn)不(bù)好(hǎo)。He's just had his heart broken and has been in a bad mood for days.

相爱(xiāng'ài)to love each otherVerb3

他们(tāmen)在(zài)大学(dàxué)里(lǐ)认识(rènshi)，很(hěn)快(kuài)就(jiù)相爱(xiāng'ài)了(le)。They met at university and soon fell in love.

吸引(xīyǐn)to attract; to drawVerb3

我(wǒ)被(bèi)他(tā)的(de)幽默(yōumò)吸引(xīyǐn)了(le)。I was drawn to his sense of humour.

Noun (21)

关系(guānxi)relationship; connectionNoun3

我(wǒ)和(hé)同事(tóngshì)的(de)关系(guānxi)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。I get on very well with my colleagues.

没(méi)关系(guānxi), “never mind”, is built from the same word.

邻居(línjū)neighbourNoun3

新(xīn)邻居(línjū)给(gěi)我们(wǒmen)送(sòng)了(le)一些(yìxiē)水果(shuǐguǒ)。The new neighbours brought us some fruit.

男朋友(nánpéngyou)boyfriendNoun2

她(tā)的(de)男朋友(nánpéngyou)是(shì)医生(yīshēng)。Her boyfriend is a doctor.

女朋友(nǚpéngyou)girlfriendNoun2

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)给(gěi)女朋友(nǚpéngyou)买(mǎi)一(yí)件(jiàn)生日(shēngrì)礼物(lǐwù)。I want to buy my girlfriend a birthday present.

A female friend who is not a partner is simply 朋友(péngyou).

约会(yuēhuì)date; appointmentNoun3

今天(jīntiān)晚上(wǎnshang)我(wǒ)有(yǒu)约会(yuēhuì)。I've got a date this evening.

Also a verb, to go on a date; context decides whether it is romantic.

感情(gǎnqíng)feelings; affection; bondNoun3

他们(tāmen)俩(liǎ)的(de)感情(gǎnqíng)一直(yìzhí)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。The two of them have always been very close.

爱情(àiqíng)romantic loveNoun3

这(zhè)是(shì)一(yí)个(ge)关于(guānyú)爱情(àiqíng)的(de)电影(diànyǐng)。This is a film about love.

Only love between partners; love in general is 爱(ài).

友谊(yǒuyì)friendshipNoun3

我们(wǒmen)的(de)友谊(yǒuyì)从(cóng)小学(xiǎoxué)就(jiù)开始(kāishǐ)了(le)。Our friendship goes back to primary school.

恋爱(liàn'ài)romantic relationship; loveNoun3

他们(tāmen)谈(tán)了(le)三(sān)年(nián)恋爱(liàn'ài)。They were going out for three years.

Being in a relationship is 谈(tán)恋爱(liàn'ài), literally “talk love”.

陌生人(mòshēngrén)strangerNoun3

小(xiǎo)孩子(háizi)不(bú)要(yào)跟(gēn)陌生人(mòshēngrén)走(zǒu)。Small children should never go off with strangers.

老乡(lǎoxiāng)person from the same hometownNoun3

在(zài)北京(Běijīng)我(wǒ)遇到(yùdào)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)老乡(lǎoxiāng)。In Beijing I met someone from my hometown.

伙伴(huǒbàn)companion; partnerNoun3

他(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)小时候(xiǎoshíhou)的(de)伙伴(huǒbàn)。He was my childhood playmate.

小(xiǎo)伙伴(huǒbàn) is a playmate; between firms, a partner.

对象(duìxiàng)partner (boyfriend or girlfriend)Noun3

你(nǐ)有(yǒu)对象(duìxiàng)了(le)吗(ma)？Are you seeing someone?

Colloquial; relatives ask it at every family gathering. It also means “target, object”.

爱人(àirén)spouse (husband or wife)Noun3

我(wǒ)爱人(àirén)在(zài)医院(yīyuàn)工作(gōngzuò)。My wife works at a hospital.

On the mainland a husband or wife, not a lover; younger people say 老公(lǎogōng) and 老婆(lǎopo).

矛盾(máodùn)friction; contradictionNoun3

他们(tāmen)兄弟(xiōngdì)俩(liǎ)之间(zhījiān)有(yǒu)点儿(diǎnr)矛盾(máodùn)。There is a bit of friction between the two brothers.

Also an adjective: 我(wǒ)心里(xīnlǐ)很(hěn)矛盾(máodùn), I am torn.

婚姻(hūnyīn)marriageNoun3

他们(tāmen)的(de)婚姻(hūnyīn)很(hěn)幸福(xìngfú)。Theirs is a very happy marriage.

Being married as a state; the wedding itself is 婚礼(hūnlǐ).

熟人(shúrén)acquaintance; someone you knowNoun3

在(zài)小(xiǎo)城市(chéngshì)办(bàn)事(shì)，有(yǒu)熟人(shúrén)就(jiù)方便(fāngbiàn)多(duō)了(le)。In a small town, getting things done is much easier if you know people.

来往(láiwǎng)contact; dealingsNoun3

搬家(bānjiā)以后(yǐhòu)，我们(wǒmen)跟(gēn)老(lǎo)邻居(línjū)还有(háiyǒu)来往(láiwǎng)。Since moving, we are still in touch with our old neighbours.

新郎(xīnláng)bridegroomNoun3

新郎(xīnláng)紧张(jǐnzhāng)得(de)说不出(shuōbuchū)话(huà)来(lai)。The groom was so nervous he couldn't get a word out.

新娘(xīnniáng)brideNoun3

今天(jīntiān)的(de)新娘(xīnniáng)真(zhēn)漂亮(piàoliang)！The bride looks beautiful today!

初恋(chūliàn)first loveNoun3

她(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)初恋(chūliàn)。She was my first love.

Adjective (3)

熟悉(shúxī)familiar; to know wellAdjective3

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)一起(yìqǐ)工作(gōngzuò)了(le)十(shí)年(nián)，互相(hùxiāng)很(hěn)熟悉(shúxī)。We have worked together for ten years and know each other very well.

Also for places: 熟悉(shúxī)环境(huánjìng), to get to know one's surroundings.

亲密(qīnmì)close; intimateAdjective3

她们(tāmen)是(shì)最(zuì)亲密(qīnmì)的(de)朋友(péngyou)。They are the closest of friends.

单身(dānshēn)single; unmarriedAdjective3

我(wǒ)哥哥(gēge)三十(sānshí)岁(suì)了(le)，还是(háishi)单身(dānshēn)。My elder brother is thirty and still single.

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