提亲 (tí qīn) — to propose marriage (in a traditional Chinese context, typically involving a family visit or matchmaker)

Definition

提亲 means the traditional practice of a man's family formally asking for a bride's hand, usually through a matchmaker or in-person visit — a cultural custom, not a casual 'proposal'.

verb
to propose marriage (in a traditional Chinese context, typically involving a family visit or matchmaker)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā shàng ge yuè qù nǚ fāng jiā tí le qīn.
    He went to the bride's family last month to propose marriage.
  • 提亲。
    Tā dǎ suàn míng nián chūn tiān qù tí qīn.
    He plans to go propose marriage next spring.
  • 提亲。
    tí qīn Shì yí jiàn hěn zhèng shì de shì qing.
    Proposing marriage is a very formal matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

提tíbring up
亲qīnmarriage

提 means to bring up, and 亲 refers to marriage, so together they mean propose marriage.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
是
是shì提tí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

提 shows 扌 (hand) beside 是, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 提 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn親qīn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

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