爱侣 (ài lǚ) — lovers; sweethearts | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A literary, romantic term for a couple in love — more poetic and elevated than 爱人 or 恋人, and typically used for a married or long-term pair rather than casual dating.

noun

loverssweethearts

Measure word · 对

Examples

爱侣。
Tā men shì yí duì lìng rén xiàn mù de ài lǚ.
They are an enviable couple.
爱侣。
Zhè duì ài lǚ xié shǒu zǒu guò le jǐ shí nián.
This couple has walked hand in hand for several decades.
，爱侣。
Hūn lǐ shàng, ài lǚ xiàng bǐ cǐ xǔ xià chéng nuò.
At the wedding, the lovers made promises to each other.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

爱àilove

侣lǚcompanion

爱 (love) describes the 侣 (companion), giving beloved companion.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 愛; 爱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

旡

旡jì愛ài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 愛, an older shape paired 心 (heart) with 旡 as its sound part; later a foot-like 夊 was added below. The simplified 爱 is a later variant that replaces the lower part with 友.

Open 爱 →

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 侶; 侣 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺅Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

呂

呂lǚ侶lǚ

Same sound today

The traditional form 侶 is made from 人 (person) and 呂; 人 gives the companion meaning and 呂 gives the sound.

Open 侣 →

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