夫妻

fū qī

CL 对 duì

HSK 3.0 Level 3 Noun Common

Definitions

1. husband and wife; married couple

Word relationships

Counterparts

2 items

• 丈夫 zhàng fu 丈夫 zhàng fu husband 夫妻中的男性一方。: husband
• 妻子 qī zi 妻子 qī zi wife 夫妻中的女性一方。: wife

Register variants

1 item

• 两口子 liǎng kǒu zi 两口子 liǎng kǒu zi husband and wife 口语中的非正式说法，意思也是夫妻，但更亲切。: husband and wife

Synonyms

1 item

• 夫妇 fū fù 夫妇 fū fù a (married) couple 意思几乎相同，都指丈夫和妻子，但‘夫妻’更口语化，‘夫妇’稍微正式。: a (married) couple

Usage notes

Common mistakes

‘夫妻’ already means 'husband and wife' as a pair. Do not say ‘一个夫妻’ or ‘两个夫妻’ to count people. Use ‘一对夫妻’ for a couple.

Formality

‘夫妻’ is slightly informal for 'couple'. In very formal contexts (e.g., official documents), ‘夫妇’ is more appropriate.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他们是一对很恩爱的 夫妻 。

They are a very loving couple.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 夫妻

• 半糖夫妻 半糖夫妻 bàn táng fū qī: weekend spouse
• 夫妻反目 夫妻反目 fū qī fǎn mù: man and wife fall out (idiom, from Book of Changes); marital strife
• 夫妻店 夫妻店 fū qī diàn: family-run shop
• 夫妻相 夫妻相 fū qī xiàng: common facial traits that show predestination to be married together
• 夫妻脸 夫妻脸 fū qī liǎn: see 夫妻相[fū qī xiàng]
• 露水夫妻 露水夫妻 lù shuǐ fū qī: a couple in a short-lived, improper relationship

Child Words of 夫妻

• 夫 夫 fū: man
• 夫 夫 fú: (classical) this, that
• 妻 妻 qī: wife
• 妻 妻 qì: to marry off (a daughter)