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配偶 (pèi ǒu) — spouse

Definition

Formal, written term for 'spouse' (husband or wife) — used on official documents and contracts, unlike the everyday 爱人 or colloquial 老婆/老伴儿. Refers to one person, not the couple as a unit (cf. 夫妇).

noun
spouse
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 配偶。
    Zhè fèn hé tong xū yào pèi ǒu shuāng fāng gòng tóng qiān zì.
    This contract requires both spouses to sign together.
  • 配偶。
    Tā zhèng zài bàn lǐ pèi ǒu de yí mín shǒu xù.
    He is handling the immigration procedures for his spouse.
  • 配偶。
    Gōng sī wèi yuán gōng jí qí pèi ǒu tí gōng yī liáo bǎo xiǎn.
    The company provides health insurance for employees and their spouses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

配pèimatch
偶ǒumate

配 refers to matching or pairing, and 偶 refers to a mate; together they name a spouse.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 酉酉yǒualcohol vessel
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

配 is formed by putting 酉, an alcohol vessel, next to 卩, a kneeling person. The reference gives these two parts, but not the reason they combine.

Open 配 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
禺
禺yú偶ǒu
Same sound today

偶 pairs 亻 (person) with 禺 for the sound. The evidence describes it as a statue of a person, an idol.

Open 偶 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Family & KinshipRomance & Marriage

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