求婚
When someone is ready to ask their partner to marry them, they propose marriage. In Chinese, we say 求婚 (qiúhūn). It's a big step in a relationship!
You might see someone get down on one knee with a ring when they 求婚. After they 求婚, their partner can say yes or no.
When we talk about "求婚" (qiúhūn), we're referring to the act of proposing marriage. It's a significant moment where someone asks their partner to marry them. This is typically done with a ring, and often in a romantic setting. In Chinese culture, while the traditional elements might vary, the essence of "求婚" remains the same: a heartfelt request to spend a lifetime together. It's a big step in a relationship, often filled with anticipation and emotion.
When we talk about marriage proposals in Chinese, the verb is 求婚 (qiú hūn). This literally translates to "seek marriage" or "ask for marriage."
It's important to remember that this verb specifically refers to the act of one person asking another to marry them. You wouldn't use it for general discussions about marriage plans between a couple.
For example, if a man is going to ask his girlfriend to marry him, you would say他要去跟女朋友求婚 (Tā yào qù gēn nǚ péngyǒu qiú hūn). It's a direct and common way to express this significant event.
§ Basic Sentence Structure
The verb 求婚 (qiúhūn) means 'to propose marriage'. It's pretty straightforward to use. The most common way to form a sentence with 求婚 is [Person A] + 向 (xiàng) + [Person B] + 求婚 (qiúhūn). The word 向 (xiàng) here means 'to' or 'towards', indicating the direction of the action.
他向我求婚了。
- Translation Hint
- He proposed to me.
她期待男朋友向她求婚。
- Translation Hint
- She expects her boyfriend to propose to her.
§ Adding Details to the Proposal
You can easily add more information about the proposal, like when or where it happened, by placing these details before or after the '向 (xiàng) + [Person B]' part. Chinese sentence structure is quite flexible here, but generally, time and place come before the main verb.
Before '向' phrase:
When you want to emphasize the time or location of the proposal, you can place these elements at the beginning of the sentence or right before the '向 (xiàng)' phrase.
昨天他在埃菲尔铁塔下向她求婚了。
- Translation Hint
- Yesterday, he proposed to her under the Eiffel Tower.
After '向' phrase:
You can also add adverbial phrases after the '向 (xiàng)' phrase to describe how the proposal happened.
他向她浪漫地求婚。
- Translation Hint
- He proposed to her romantically.
§ Result of the Proposal
You often want to know if the proposal was successful! You can use resultative complements to show the outcome. The most common one is 成功 (chénggōng), meaning 'successfully'.
他向她求婚成功了。
- Translation Hint
- He successfully proposed to her.
If the proposal was rejected, you might see something like:
他向她求婚，但被拒绝了。
- Translation Hint
- He proposed to her, but was rejected.
§ Using '求婚' in Questions
Asking if someone proposed or was proposed to is simple. Just add question particles or use question words.
Using 吗 (ma):
他向你求婚了吗？
- Translation Hint
- Did he propose to you?
Using interrogative pronouns (谁 - shéi, 'who'):
谁向你求婚了？
- Translation Hint
- Who proposed to you?
Mastering '求婚' in sentences is all about understanding the core structure with 向 (xiàng) and then layering on details like time, place, and outcome. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll be expressing proposals in Chinese like a pro!
Le savais-tu ?
The character 婚 (hūn) originally depicted a woman with a man on her right, suggesting the act of a man taking a wife. Over time, the meaning evolved to 'marriage' in general.
Exemples par niveau
他今天向我求婚了。
He proposed to me today.
我朋友在生日派对上求婚。
My friend proposed at the birthday party.
他们计划在旅行时求婚。
They plan to propose during their trip.
你觉得他会求婚吗？
Do you think he will propose?
她希望在海边被求婚。
She hopes to be proposed to by the sea.
男孩子单膝跪地求婚。
The boy knelt down on one knee to propose.
他没有求婚，我们就结婚了。
He didn't propose, and we got married.
她接受了他的求婚。
She accepted his proposal.
他今天向我求婚了。
He proposed to me today.
她梦想一个浪漫的求婚。
She dreams of a romantic proposal.
你打算怎么求婚？
How do you plan to propose?
他在餐厅里求婚了。
He proposed in the restaurant.
我需要帮助来策划求婚。
I need help to plan the proposal.
她很惊讶他的求婚。
She was surprised by his proposal.
他们在一起五年后求婚。
They proposed after five years together.
他单膝跪地求婚。
He proposed on one knee.
他在浪漫的晚餐后，单膝跪地，向她求婚了。
He knelt on one knee after a romantic dinner and proposed to her.
Single-knee kneeling is a common gesture when proposing.
她一直梦想着一个惊喜的求婚。
She always dreamed of a surprise marriage proposal.
惊喜 (jīngxǐ) means 'surprise'.
经过多年的爱情长跑，他终于决定向她求婚。
After many years of being in love, he finally decided to propose to her.
爱情长跑 (àiqíng chángpǎo) refers to a long-term relationship.
他们的朋友都期待着他们什么时候求婚。
All their friends are looking forward to when they will propose.
期待 (qīdài) means 'to look forward to'.
她接受了他的求婚，两人准备步入婚姻的殿堂。
She accepted his proposal, and they are preparing to enter the halls of marriage.
步入婚姻的殿堂 (bùrù hūnyīn de diàntáng) is a poetic way to say 'to get married'.
他精心策划了一场求婚，希望能给她留下深刻印象。
He meticulously planned a proposal, hoping to leave a deep impression on her.
精心策划 (jīngxīn cèhuà) means 'to meticulously plan'.
虽然求婚过程有些紧张，但结局是美好的。
Although the proposal process was a bit tense, the ending was beautiful.
结局 (jiéjú) means 'ending'.
听说他打算在旅行中向女友求婚。
I heard he plans to propose to his girlfriend during their trip.
打算 (dǎsuàn) means 'to plan' or 'to intend'.
他在法国巴黎埃菲尔铁塔下向她求婚，场面浪漫至极。
He proposed to her under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, an incredibly romantic scene.
“向...求婚” means to propose marriage to someone.
她一直梦想着一个特别的求婚仪式，所以他计划了很久。
She always dreamed of a special proposal ceremony, so he planned for a long time.
“求婚仪式” refers to a proposal ceremony.
当他单膝跪地，拿出戒指求婚时，她激动得说不出话来。
When he knelt on one knee and took out the ring to propose, she was so excited she couldn't speak.
“单膝跪地” means to kneel on one knee, often associated with proposing.
虽然他们已经在一起很多年了，但他的求婚还是让她感到非常惊喜。
Although they had been together for many years, his proposal still greatly surprised her.
“感到惊喜” means to feel surprised.
她犹豫了一会儿，最终还是答应了他的求婚，两人紧紧相拥。
She hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted his proposal, and they embraced tightly.
“答应求婚” means to accept a proposal.
他精心准备了这次求婚，甚至请了摄影师记录下这个重要时刻。
He meticulously prepared for this proposal, even hiring a photographer to capture this important moment.
“精心准备” means to meticulously prepare.
她的父母对他的求婚非常满意，认为他是一个值得托付终身的人。
Her parents were very satisfied with his proposal, believing he was someone worth entrusting her life to.
“值得托付终身” means worthy of entrusting one's life to.
尽管他的求婚有些突然，但她感受到了他真诚的爱意。
Although his proposal was a bit sudden, she felt his sincere love.
“真诚的爱意” means sincere love.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
他向她求婚了。
He proposed to her.
你什么时候打算求婚？
When are you planning to propose?
我希望我的男朋友能向我求婚。
I hope my boyfriend proposes to me.
他们在海边求婚。
They proposed by the sea.
她惊喜地接受了他的求婚。
She happily accepted his proposal.
他想了一个特别的求婚方式。
He thought of a special way to propose.
求婚需要很大的勇气。
Proposing requires a lot of courage.
你觉得在哪里求婚最好？
Where do you think is the best place to propose?
她的朋友们都在等她被求婚。
Her friends are all waiting for her to be proposed to.
求婚的瞬间非常浪漫。
The moment of proposal was very romantic.
Souvent confondu avec
General proposal/suggestion vs. specific marriage proposal.
Giving advice/recommendation vs. asking someone to marry you.
Confessing feelings vs. formally asking for marriage.
Facile à confondre
Both '提议' and '求婚' involve making a suggestion or proposal. However, '提议' is a general term for suggesting anything, while '求婚' is specifically about proposing marriage.
'提议' can be used for any proposal or suggestion (e.g., proposing a new project, suggesting a dinner plan). '求婚' is exclusively used for proposing marriage.
他提议我们一起去旅行。(Tā tíyì wǒmen yīqǐ qù lǚxíng.) - He proposed that we travel together. / 他向她求婚了。(Tā xiàng tā qiúhūn le.) - He proposed marriage to her.
Similar to '提议', '建议' also means to suggest or advise. It's easy to mistake it for '求婚' because both involve putting forward an idea.
'建议' is about giving advice or making a recommendation. '求婚' is a specific, life-changing proposal. You wouldn't use '建议' to mean 'propose marriage'.
我建议你早点睡觉。(Wǒ jiànyì nǐ zǎo diǎn shuìjiào.) - I suggest you go to bed early. / 他决定向她求婚。(Tā juédìng xiàng tā qiúhūn.) - He decided to propose marriage to her.
'表白' means to confess one's feelings, often romantic. While proposing marriage involves confessing love, '表白' is broader and doesn't always lead to a marriage proposal.
'表白' is about expressing deep feelings, often love, to someone. It can happen at any stage of a relationship. '求婚' is a formal act of asking someone to marry you.
他向她表白了他的爱。(Tā xiàng tā biǎobái le tā de ài.) - He confessed his love to her. / 他鼓起勇气向她求婚。(Tā gǔ qǐ yǒngqì xiàng tā qiúhūn.) - He mustered up the courage to propose marriage to her.
Both '求婚' and '订婚' are related to marriage. '订婚' comes after a successful '求婚', so learners might confuse the action of proposing with the state of being engaged.
'求婚' is the act of asking someone to marry you. '订婚' is the state of being engaged to be married, which typically happens after the proposal has been accepted.
他求婚成功后，他们就订婚了。(Tā qiúhūn chénggōng hòu, tāmen jiù dìnghūn le.) - After his successful proposal, they got engaged. / 他们下个月订婚。(Tāmen xià ge yuè dìnghūn.) - They will get engaged next month.
Like '订婚', '结婚' is the ultimate goal of '求婚'. Learners might confuse the act of proposing with the act of getting married itself.
'求婚' is the question, the act of asking someone to marry you. '结婚' is the act of getting married, the ceremony and legal union.
他单膝跪地向她求婚。(Tā dānxī guìdì xiàng tā qiúhūn.) - He knelt down and proposed marriage to her. / 他们决定明年结婚。(Tāmen juédìng míngnián jiéhūn.) - They decided to get married next year.
Famille de mots
Noms
Origine du mot
Compound of 求 (qiú) and 婚 (hūn).
Sens originel : 求 (qiú) means 'to seek; to request' and 婚 (hūn) means 'marriage'. So, literally, 'to seek marriage'.
Sino-TibetanContexte culturel
<p>In Chinese culture, proposing marriage is a significant event, often done with careful planning and consideration for family approval, though modern proposals are increasingly influenced by Western romantic gestures. While the act of proposing is becoming more personal and grand, the involvement of families in the marriage process (especially parental approval) remains a strong tradition.</p><p>It's common for the man to propose to the woman, but a growing number of women are also initiating proposals. The proposal itself can range from an intimate moment to an elaborate public display, often involving flowers, rings, and a special meal.</p>
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsThe Chinese word for 'to propose marriage' is 求婚 (qiú hūn). It literally means 'seek marriage'.
No, 求婚 (qiú hūn) is primarily a verb, meaning 'to propose marriage'. If you want to say 'a proposal' as a noun, you might say 求婚仪式 (qiú hūn yí shì) for 'a marriage proposal ceremony' or 求婚戒指 (qiú hūn jiè zhǐ) for 'a proposal ring'.
A very common phrase is 你愿意嫁给我吗？ (nǐ yuàn yì jià gěi wǒ ma?) which means 'Will you marry me?' (literally, 'Are you willing to marry me?').
Yes, 求婚 (qiú hūn) can be used regardless of who is doing the proposing. However, traditionally, it's more common for men to propose to women.
While the act of proposing is similar, some traditions might differ. For example, some families might be involved in the decision-making process, and there might be specific customs around engagement gifts or ceremonies. However, the core idea of 求婚 (qiú hūn) is the same.
You can say 他向她求婚了 (tā xiàng tā qiú hūn le). 向 (xiàng) here means 'to' or 'towards'.
求婚 (qiú hūn) means 'to propose marriage', which is the act of asking someone to marry you. 结婚 (jié hūn) means 'to get married' or 'to marry', which is the act of formalizing the union.
No, 求婚 (qiú hūn) is specifically for proposing marriage. For a business proposal, you would use a different word like 提案 (tí 'àn) or 建议 (jiàn yì).
While 求婚 (qiú hūn) is inherently romantic, it can sometimes be used playfully or humorously among close friends, but always in the context of marriage. For example, someone might jokingly say 你是在向我求婚吗？ (nǐ shì zài xiàng wǒ qiú hūn ma?) 'Are you proposing to me?'
You can use 求婚 (qiú hūn) directly as a verb. For example:
- 他决定在生日派对上求婚。 (tā jué dìng zài shēng rì pài duì shàng qiú hūn.) - He decided to propose at the birthday party.
- 她一直梦想着被求婚。 (tā yì zhí mèng xiǎng zhe bèi qiú hūn.) - She always dreamed of being proposed to.
Teste-toi 66 questions
他想向他的女朋友___。
The sentence means 'He wants to ___ to his girlfriend.' '求婚' (propose marriage) fits the context.
她很高兴他向她___了。
The sentence means 'She was very happy that he ___ to her.' '求婚' (propose marriage) is the correct verb.
在餐厅里，他突然___了。
The sentence means 'In the restaurant, he suddenly ___.' '求婚' (proposed marriage) makes sense in this context.
他准备了一个惊喜，然后___。
The sentence means 'He prepared a surprise, and then ___.' '求婚' (proposed marriage) logically follows preparing a surprise.
她的男朋友在海边向她___。
The sentence means 'Her boyfriend ___ to her at the beach.' '求婚' (proposed marriage) is a common romantic event.
他单膝跪地，向她___。
The sentence means 'He knelt on one knee and ___ to her.' Kneeling on one knee is a classic gesture for '求婚' (proposing marriage).
He proposed today.
She accepted his proposal.
My friend plans to propose tomorrow.
Read this aloud:
他求婚了吗？
Focus: qiúhūn le ma?
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我想向她求婚。
Focus: wǒ xiǎng xiàng tā qiúhūn.
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他们什么时候求婚的？
Focus: tāmen shénme shíhou qiúhūn de?
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'He proposed marriage.' The correct order is subject, verb, and then the particle 了 to indicate completion.
This sentence means 'Do you want to propose marriage?' The structure is Subject + 想 (to want) + Verb + 吗 (question particle).
This sentence means 'I will propose marriage today.' The time word '今天' (today) usually comes before the verb or auxiliary verb.
He decided to propose to her.
Are you proposing?
They proposed after a romantic dinner.
Read this aloud:
我准备求婚了。
Focus: qiu hun
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
他今天会求婚吗？
Focus: hui qiu hun
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
求婚需要勇气。
Focus: yong qi
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you want to propose to your girlfriend. Write a short sentence in Chinese asking her to marry you.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
亲爱的，你愿意嫁给我吗？ (My dear, will you marry me?)
Your friend told you he's going to propose this weekend. Write a short message in Chinese wishing him good luck.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
祝你求婚成功！ (Wish you success in your proposal!)
Describe a simple situation where someone might propose marriage. Use '求婚' in your Chinese sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他在一家浪漫的餐厅向她求婚。 (He proposed to her in a romantic restaurant.)
What is he going to do tonight?
Read this passage:
他今天晚上要向女朋友求婚。他很紧张，但是也很期待。他准备了戒指和鲜花。
What is he going to do tonight?
The passage says '他今天晚上要向女朋友求婚' which means 'He is going to propose to his girlfriend tonight'.
The passage says '他今天晚上要向女朋友求婚' which means 'He is going to propose to his girlfriend tonight'.
Why is she happy?
Read this passage:
她很高兴，因为她的男朋友昨天向她求婚了。她现在是他的未婚妻。
Why is she happy?
The passage states '她的男朋友昨天向她求婚了' which means 'Her boyfriend proposed to her yesterday'.
The passage states '她的男朋友昨天向她求婚了' which means 'Her boyfriend proposed to her yesterday'.
According to the passage, where do male leads often propose in movies?
Read this passage:
在电影里，男主角经常会在一个很美的地方向女主角求婚。
According to the passage, where do male leads often propose in movies?
The passage says '在一个很美的地方向女主角求婚', meaning 'propose to the female lead in a very beautiful place'.
The passage says '在一个很美的地方向女主角求婚', meaning 'propose to the female lead in a very beautiful place'.
她希望他能在海边向她______。
The sentence means 'She hopes he can propose to her by the sea.' '求婚' means to propose marriage, which fits the context.
在电影里，男主角单膝跪地向女主角______。
The scene described, 'kneeling on one knee', is a classic gesture for 'proposing marriage' (求婚).
他计划在他们的周年纪念日给她一个惊喜，向她______。
The context of 'anniversary' and 'surprise' suggests a romantic event, making 'propose marriage' (求婚) the most suitable option.
如果一个人 "求婚"，这意味着他正在要求对方嫁给自己。
"求婚" literally means 'seek marriage', which is to propose marriage.
当你说 "求婚" 时，你通常是在谈论一个人正式地结束一段关系。
"求婚" is about starting a marriage, not ending a relationship. The opposite would be true.
在中国文化中，"求婚" 常常伴随着一枚戒指。
Similar to many Western cultures, giving a ring is a common practice during a marriage proposal in China.
He proposed, do you think she will say yes?
She has always dreamed of a romantic proposal.
They plan to propose during their trip.
Read this aloud:
请用“求婚”造一个句子。
Focus: 求婚 (qiúhūn)
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
描述你理想中的求婚场景。
Focus: 求婚场景 (qiúhūn chǎngjǐng)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你要向某人求婚，你会怎么说？
Focus: 怎么说 (zěnme shuō)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen for who proposed and how.
Listen for where the proposal happened and the speaker's reaction.
Listen for what she was expecting and her reaction when he proposed.
Read this aloud:
你觉得在什么样的地方求婚最浪漫？
Focus: 求婚 (qiú hūn)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你要向某人求婚，你会怎么计划？
Focus: 计划 (jì huà)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你认为求婚时说些什么最能打动对方？
Focus: 打动 (dá dòng)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are planning to propose. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing how you would propose and what you would say.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我计划在一个浪漫的晚餐后向她求婚。我会单膝跪地，拿出戒指，然后对她说：“亲爱的，你愿意嫁给我吗？我想和你共度余生。” 我希望我们能一起创造美好的未来。
You are writing a letter to a friend, telling them about a surprising proposal you witnessed. Describe the scene and your feelings in 3-4 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
昨天我在公园看到了一场求婚。男主角准备了鲜花和气球，突然单膝跪下，向他的女朋友求婚。女主角非常惊喜，眼泪都出来了。看到他们幸福的样子，我也觉得很感动。
Write a short dialogue (3-4 exchanges) between two friends discussing the perfect way to propose.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A: 嘿，你觉得什么样的求婚才算完美？ B: 我觉得一定要有惊喜，而且要很浪漫。 A: 嗯，那你的求婚地点会选在哪里？ B: 可能是在一个有意义的地方，比如我们第一次约会的地方，然后我会拿出戒指，问她愿不愿意嫁给我。
小明选择在哪天向小红求婚？
Read this passage:
小明和小红相恋五年。小明决定在小红生日那天向她求婚。他偷偷准备了一个特别的戒指，并在餐厅预订了最好的位置。当服务员端上蛋糕时，小明单膝跪地，问小红：“你愿意嫁给我吗？” 小红惊喜地流下了眼泪，点头答应了。
小明选择在哪天向小红求婚？
文章中明确提到“小明决定在小红生日那天向她求婚。”
文章中明确提到“小明决定在小红生日那天向她求婚。”
莉莉的男朋友是如何求婚的？
Read this passage:
我的朋友莉莉最近收到了一份非常独特的求婚。她的男朋友没有鲜花和戒指，而是带着她去了他们第一次见面的咖啡馆。在那里，他播放了一段他们共同回忆的视频，并在视频的最后问莉莉是否愿意和他共度一生。莉莉觉得这个求婚比任何鲜花都更让她感动。
莉莉的男朋友是如何求婚的？
文章中提到“他播放了一段他们共同回忆的视频，并在视频的最后问莉莉是否愿意和他共度一生。”
文章中提到“他播放了一段他们共同回忆的视频，并在视频的最后问莉莉是否愿意和他共度一生。”
根据文章，在中国传统文化中，求婚时哪些元素仍然受到重视？
Read this passage:
在中国的传统文化中，求婚的仪式感非常重要。虽然现代社会有很多创新的求婚方式，但一些传统元素仍然受到重视，比如男方家庭会向女方家庭提亲，并准备彩礼。不过，最重要的还是双方的感情基础和对未来的共同规划。
根据文章，在中国传统文化中，求婚时哪些元素仍然受到重视？
文章中提到“一些传统元素仍然受到重视，比如男方家庭会向女方家庭提亲，并准备彩礼。”
文章中提到“一些传统元素仍然受到重视，比如男方家庭会向女方家庭提亲，并准备彩礼。”
The speaker is describing a marriage proposal.
Someone accepted a marriage proposal.
A man proposed to his girlfriend with help from friends.
Read this aloud:
你觉得什么样的求婚方式最浪漫？
Focus: 求婚方式 (qiú hūn fāng shì)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你的朋友向你征求求婚建议，你会给他什么建议？
Focus: 征求建议 (zhēng qiú jiàn yì)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你认为求婚需要一个特殊的场合吗？为什么？
Focus: 特殊场合 (tè shū chǎng hé)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The subject '他' (he) chose '选择' (to choose) to '求婚' (propose) to '她' (her) '在周年纪念日' (on their anniversary).
The sentence describes her surprise: '她从来没有想过' (She never thought) '他会' (he would) '以这种方式' (in this way) '求婚' (propose).
'尽管压力很大' (Despite immense pressure), '他仍然鼓起勇气' (he still mustered the courage) to '向她求婚' (propose to her).
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
他在浪漫的晚餐后向她求婚。
