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A2 adjective 9 min read

适婚

shihun
Examples 适婚 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 适婚 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that 适婚 (shìhūn) is related to marriage and age. It is a combination of 'suitable' and 'marriage.' You might see it in simple forms like '适婚年龄' (marriage age). Think of it as a way to say someone is 'grown up enough' to get married. In China, this usually means being over 20 or 22 years old. You don't need to use it in complex sentences yet. Just recognize that when you see '婚' (hūn), it usually has something to do with weddings or marriage, and '适' (shì) means it's the right time or the right fit. For an A1 learner, just remembering that this word describes people who are ready for marriage is enough. You might hear a grandmother say this word when looking at a photo of a young adult.
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As an A2 learner, you can start using 适婚 (shìhūn) in basic phrases. The most important phrase to learn is 适婚年龄 (shìhūn niánlíng), which means 'marriageable age.' You can use this to talk about your friends or yourself. For example, 'My brother is 25, he is at the marriageable age.' In Chinese, that would be '我哥哥二十五岁，到了适婚年龄.' You should also know that this word is a bit more formal than just saying 'he wants to marry.' It's like saying someone is 'eligible' or 'of age.' You will see this word often on Chinese social media or in news stories about young people. It's a useful word because marriage is a very common topic of conversation in China, and knowing the 'official' word for it makes you sound more advanced.
At the B1 level, you should understand the social implications of 适婚 (shìhūn). It’s not just a number; it’s a social expectation. You can use it to discuss trends, such as why many 适婚青年 (marriageable youth) are choosing to stay single. You can also use it to describe a 'target' in a matchmaking context: 适婚对象 (a marriageable prospect). You should be able to distinguish 适婚 from 试婚 (trial marriage), which sounds similar but has a very different meaning. At this level, you can start using the word in short essays or during discussions about Chinese culture. For example, you could explain that in China, parents are very concerned when their children reach the 适婚年龄 but haven't found a partner yet. This shows you understand both the language and the culture.
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At the B2 level, you can use 适婚 (shìhūn) in more formal and nuanced ways. You might use it in a debate about demographics, birth rates, or the 'leftover' phenomenon. You should be comfortable using collocations like 适婚人口 (marriageable population) or 推迟适婚年龄 (delaying marriageable age). You can also understand the word's use in marketing—for example, how certain industries (like real estate or jewelry) target the 适婚人群. You should be able to explain the difference between 适婚 and 法定婚龄 (legal marriage age), noting that while one is a law, the other is a social construct. Your ability to use this word in a sociological context shows a high level of vocabulary control and an understanding of formal Chinese registers.
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For C1 learners, 适婚 (shìhūn) is a tool for deep cultural and economic analysis. You should be able to discuss how the definition of 'marriageable' is shifting in modern China due to urbanization, education, and changing gender roles. You might use the term to analyze government white papers or academic articles on population growth. You can also use it to discuss the psychological pressure placed on '大龄适婚青年' (older marriageable youth). At this level, you should be sensitive to the word's tone—it can be purely descriptive, but in certain contexts, it can feel like a label that young people are trying to redefine. You can incorporate it into complex sentence structures, using it to modify abstract concepts like '适婚观念' (views on what constitutes a marriageable age/status).
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At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 适婚 (shìhūn) and its place in the Chinese linguistic landscape. You can use it with precision in academic writing or high-level policy discussions. You understand its historical evolution and how it contrasts with classical terms for marriageability. You can use it ironically or metaphorically in literature or high-level journalism. For example, you might discuss the '适婚' status of a market or a political alliance, though this is rare and requires a very high level of nuance. You are also aware of the regional variations—how the '适婚' window is perceived differently in a Tier 1 city versus a rural village—and can articulate these differences using sophisticated vocabulary and grammar. You recognize the word not just as a descriptor, but as a key to understanding the structural pressures of the Chinese family unit.
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Examples

适婚 in 30 Seconds

  • 适婚 (shìhūn) means 'marriageable' or 'of marriageable age,' combining the characters for 'suitable' and 'marriage.'
  • It is a formal adjective primarily used to describe people in their 20s and 30s who are legally and socially ready to marry.
  • Common collocations include 适婚年龄 (marriageable age), 适婚青年 (marriageable youth), and 适婚对象 (marriageable prospect).
  • In China, the term carries significant cultural weight, often linked to family expectations, matchmaking, and national demographic discussions.

The Chinese term 适婚 (shìhūn) is a compound adjective that literally translates to 'suitable for marriage.' In a linguistic sense, it combines 适 (shì), meaning 'to fit,' 'suitable,' or 'appropriate,' with 婚 (hūn), meaning 'marriage' or 'to wed.' When used in conversation or formal writing, it describes an individual who has reached the age or life stage where society, law, or personal circumstances deem them ready to enter a marital union. Unlike the English word 'marriageable,' which can sometimes imply a quality of being desirable as a partner, 适婚 primarily focuses on the chronological and developmental window during which marriage is culturally expected or legally permitted.

Legal Context
In mainland China, the legal marriageable age is currently 22 for men and 20 for women. However, the term 适婚 often refers to a broader social window, usually spanning from the early twenties to the mid-thirties.

The term is ubiquitous in Chinese sociological discussions and everyday family life. You will encounter it in news headlines discussing demographic shifts, in government policies aimed at supporting 'marriageable youth' (适婚青年), and most poignantly, in the living rooms of families where parents are eager for their children to settle down. It carries a sense of 'timeliness.' In traditional Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on doing the right thing at the right time (在什么时间做什么事). Being 适婚 suggests that the window of opportunity is open, but it also subtly implies that the window might eventually close, leading to the social pressure associated with being 'leftover' (剩).

现在的社会，很多适婚男女选择晚婚。(In today's society, many marriageable men and women choose to marry late.)

Furthermore, 适婚 is not just about age; it often encompasses socioeconomic readiness. For a man, being considered 适婚 might traditionally involve having a stable job, a house, and a car—the so-called 'three items' of modern marriage. For women, the term is often tied to the biological clock, though this is rapidly changing in urban centers. When you hear this word, think of it as a biological and social 'ready' light. It is a neutral-to-formal term, often used in professional surveys or by parents who are trying to be polite yet firm about their expectations.

Cultural Nuance
The term is often paired with 年龄 (niánlíng - age) to form 适婚年龄. This phrase is the standard way to describe the demographic that dating apps and matchmaking agencies target.

In summary, 适婚 serves as a benchmark. It is the label given to individuals who are standing at the threshold of a major life transition. Whether used by a demographer analyzing birth rates or a grandmother at a New Year's dinner, it signals that the person in question is officially 'in the game' of seeking a life partner.

Using 适婚 (shìhūn) correctly requires understanding its role as an attributive adjective, meaning it usually modifies a noun that follows it. The most common structure is 适婚 + [Noun]. Because it is a formal and concise term, it is rarely used as a standalone predicate (e.g., you wouldn't typically say 'He is very marriageable' using just this word in a casual way; instead, you'd say 'He has reached marriageable age').

Common Collocation 1: 适婚年龄 (Marriageable Age)
This is the most frequent usage. It describes the range of years considered ideal for marriage. For example: 到了适婚年龄 (Reached the marriageable age).

政府正在研究如何鼓励适婚青年结婚。(The government is researching how to encourage marriageable youth to marry.)

When you want to describe a group of people, you use 适婚人群 (shìhūn rénqún) or 适婚男女 (shìhūn nánnǚ). This is common in marketing, sociology, and journalism. If a real estate developer is building small apartments, they might say their target market is the 适婚人群 because these individuals are likely looking for their first home before or after getting married.

Common Collocation 2: 适婚对象 (Marriageable Partner/Prospect)
This refers to a potential partner who is at the right stage of life for marriage. It is often used in the context of blind dates or matchmaking.

他在相亲会上遇到了很多适婚的对象。(He met many marriageable prospects at the matchmaking event.)

Another interesting usage is in the negative or conditional. For instance, 非适婚 (non-marriageable) might be used in a technical sense to describe those outside the demographic. However, more often, people will talk about 推迟适婚年龄 (delaying the marriageable age), which refers to the social trend of people waiting longer to get married. In formal speeches, you might hear: 关爱适婚青年 (Caring for marriageable youth), which usually implies providing financial or social support to help them start families.

To use it like a native speaker, avoid using it to mean 'attractive.' If someone is beautiful, use 漂亮. If they are 'husband material,' use 顾家 or 靠谱. Use 适婚 specifically when the topic is the timing and social status of being ready for marriage.

To truly master 适婚 (shìhūn), you must understand the environments where it echoes most loudly. This isn't a word for a romantic poem; it's a word for the dinner table, the newsroom, and the HR department.

The Family Dinner Table
In China, 'the talk' isn't just about the birds and the bees; it's about the 适婚年龄. Parents often use this word as a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge. You might hear: 'You are already of 适婚 age, why aren't you looking for a partner?'

“你已经到了适婚年龄，别总忙着工作。” ("You've reached marriageable age, don't just stay busy with work.")

Another major venue is the 相亲角 (xiāngqīn jiǎo) or 'Matchmaking Corners' in public parks. Here, parents post 'resumes' for their children. These resumes almost always specify that the person is of 适婚 age and looking for a 适婚 partner with similar background and values. It acts as a filter, ensuring that everyone involved is serious about the goal of marriage.

News and Social Media
Turn on CCTV or browse Weibo, and you'll see 适婚 in discussions about the national birth rate. Economists use it to describe the shrinking pool of 适婚人口 (marriageable population), which has long-term implications for the workforce and social security.

Social media platforms like Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu) often feature debates about what it means to be 适婚 in the 21st century. Young people often push back against the term, arguing that 'suitability' shouldn't be defined by a number on a birth certificate but by emotional maturity and financial independence. You might see hashtags like #适婚年龄不是结婚理由# (Marriageable age is not a reason to marry).

Finally, you'll hear it in the workplace, albeit more subtly. While HR cannot legally discriminate based on marital status, the '适婚' status of employees (especially women) is sometimes discussed behind closed doors regarding potential maternity leave. It is a word that sits at the intersection of private life and public policy, making it a powerful tool for understanding modern Chinese society.

While 适婚 (shìhūn) seems straightforward, English speakers often stumble because of its specific register and cultural weight. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid when incorporating this word into your vocabulary.

Mistake 1: Confusing 'Marriageable' with 'Attractive'
In English, if you say someone is 'a very marriageable man,' you might be complimenting his personality or looks. In Chinese, 适婚 is almost purely about the stage of life. To say someone is attractive or 'good marriage material,' use 优秀 (yōuxiù - excellent) or 有魅力 (yǒu mèilì - charming).

Incorrect: 她很适婚。(She is very marriageable - sounds like a demographic stat).
Correct: 她到了适婚年龄。(She has reached marriageable age).

Another common error is using 适婚 to describe the wedding ceremony itself. The word refers to the person or the age, not the event. For things related to the ceremony, use 婚礼 (hūnlǐ). For example, 'marriageable dress' is not 适婚衣服; it would be 婚纱 (hūnshā - wedding dress).

Mistake 2: Misusing the Character '适'
Learners sometimes confuse 适婚 with 试婚 (shìhūn). Note the difference: 适 (suitable) vs. 试 (to try/test). 试婚 means 'trial marriage' or living together before marriage. Pronouncing these two differently is crucial to avoid awkward misunderstandings!

Finally, don't over-rely on 适婚 when discussing personal desires. If you want to say 'I want to get married,' say 我想结婚 (Wǒ xiǎng jiéhūn). Using 适婚 makes it sound like you are discussing yourself as a statistical data point. Use it when talking about social trends, parental expectations, or demographic groups to sound most natural.

To broaden your Chinese vocabulary, it is helpful to see how 适婚 (shìhūn) compares to other words related to age and marriage. While 适婚 is the most precise term for 'marriageable,' several other words occupy nearby semantic space.

适婚 vs. 婚龄 (Hūnlíng)
婚龄 literally means 'marriage age.' It is a noun, often used in legal contexts like 法定婚龄 (legal marriage age). 适婚 is an adjective describing the person or the state of being at that age. You would say 'He has reached 婚龄,' but you would describe him as a 适婚青年.

法定婚龄是结婚的最低门槛。(The legal marriage age is the minimum threshold for marriage.)

适婚 vs. 待嫁 (Dàijià) / 待娶 (Dàiqǔ)
These are more traditional and gender-specific. 待嫁 means 'waiting to be married' (for women), and 待娶 means 'waiting to marry a wife' (for men). These terms carry a more poetic or old-fashioned feel compared to the modern, sociological 适婚.

If you are looking for a more casual way to say someone is 'at that age,' you might hear people say 该结婚了 (gāi jiéhūn le), which means 'it's time to get married.' This is much more common in daily speech among friends. Another related term is 大龄 (dàlíng), which means 'older' or 'beyond the typical marriageable age.' When combined, 大龄适婚青年 refers to people who are still in the marriageable bracket but are on the older end of it, often facing more pressure.

In professional matchmaking, you might also see 单身 (dānshēn - single). While all 适婚 people are usually 单身, not all 单身 people are 适婚 (they might be too young or too old). Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate the complex social waters of relationships in China with much more precision.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃɨ̂.xwə́n/
US /ʃɨ̂.xwə́n/
The primary stress in Chinese is often balanced, but in 'shìhūn', the emphasis on the falling 4th tone of 'shì' makes it stand out.
Rhymes With
军 (jūn) 裙 (qún) 春 (chūn) 云 (yún) 寻 (xún) 门 (mén) 真 (zhēn) 新 (xīn)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing '适' (shì) as 'sì' (missing the retroflex 'h').
  • Confusing 'shì' (4th tone) with 'shí' (2nd tone).
  • Pronouncing 'hūn' like English 'hun' (honey) instead of 'hwun'.
  • Confusing '适婚' (shìhūn) with '试婚' (shìhūn - trial marriage, though the tones are the same, the characters differ).
  • Using a rising tone on 'shì' by mistake.
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Examples by Level

1

他到了适婚年龄。

He reached the marriageable age.

Subject + 到了 + 适婚年龄

2

适婚的人很多。

There are many marriageable people.

适婚 + 的 + 人

3

她是适婚青年。

She is a marriageable youth.

Subject + 是 + 适婚青年

4

适婚年龄是多少？

What is the marriageable age?

Question structure

5

我不适婚。

I am not marriageable (in this context, usually meaning 'not at that age yet').

Negative structure

6

适婚男女在这里。

Marriageable men and women are here.

适婚男女 as a compound noun

7

你要找适婚的人。

You need to find a marriageable person.

Verb + 适婚的人

8

适婚的年纪到了。

The marriageable age has arrived.

适婚的 + 年纪

1

中国男性的适婚年龄是22岁。

The marriageable age for Chinese men is 22.

Possessive structure with 适婚年龄

2

很多适婚青年在工作。

Many marriageable youths are working.

适婚青年 as the subject

3

他想找一个适婚的对象。

He wants to find a marriageable partner.

适婚对象 as the object

4

父母很担心适婚的孩子。

Parents are very worried about marriageable children.

适婚 as an adjective for '孩子'

5

适婚人群喜欢买房子。

Marriageable people like to buy houses.

适婚人群 as a demographic term

6

这个活动是为适婚男女准备的。

This activity is prepared for marriageable men and women.

为...准备的 structure

7

他还没有到适婚的年纪。

He hasn't reached the marriageable age yet.

还没有到...的年纪

8

城市里的适婚青年压力很大。

Marriageable youth in cities have a lot of pressure.

Locative + 适婚青年

1

随着社会发展，适婚年龄在推迟。

With social development, the marriageable age is being delayed.

随着... development structure

2

他是一个非常理想的适婚对象。

He is a very ideal marriageable prospect.

Adjective + 适婚对象

3

很多适婚女性选择先发展事业。

Many marriageable women choose to develop their careers first.

适婚女性 + 选择 + action

4

政府出台政策支持适婚青年置业。

The government issued policies to support marriageable youth in buying property.

Serial verb construction

5

在农村，适婚的观念可能更传统。

In the countryside, views on marriageability might be more traditional.

适婚的 + 观念

6

他虽然到了适婚年龄，但并不想结婚。

Although he reached the marriageable age, he doesn't want to marry.

虽然...但... contrast

7

相亲角里到处都是适婚男女的信息。

The matchmaking corner is full of information about marriageable men and women.

到处都是 structure

8

如何吸引适婚人群是这个品牌的重点。

How to attract the marriageable demographic is this brand's focus.

Noun clause as a subject

1

适婚人口的减少引发了社会的广泛关注。

The decrease in the marriageable population has sparked widespread social concern.

适婚人口 + 的 + 减少 (nominalized verb)

2

对于适婚青年来说，买房是一个巨大的挑战。

For marriageable youth, buying a house is a huge challenge.

对于...来说 structure

3

法律规定的适婚年龄与社会习俗有所不同。

The marriageable age stipulated by law differs from social customs.

有所不同 (formal 'is somewhat different')

4

他在寻找适婚对象时非常注重对方的性格。

He pays great attention to the other person's character when looking for a marriageable partner.

在...时 (while/when)

5

现在的适婚标准已经发生了翻天覆地的变化。

Current standards for being marriageable have undergone earth-shaking changes.

发生...变化 (undergo change)

6

适婚人群的消费习惯正在改变珠宝市场。

The spending habits of the marriageable demographic are changing the jewelry market.

Present continuous with 正在

7

他被父母催促，因为他早已过了适婚年纪。

He is being rushed by his parents because he long ago passed the marriageable age.

被-passive construction

8

探讨适婚青年的心理压力是本文的核心。

Exploring the psychological pressure of marriageable youth is the core of this article.

Gerund-like subject (探讨...)

1

适婚人口结构的失衡对婚配市场产生了深远影响。

The imbalance in the marriageable population structure has had a profound impact on the marriage market.

Structure-heavy formal sentence

2

我们应当重新审视所谓“适婚”的定义与范畴。

We should re-examine the definition and scope of so-called 'marriageable.'

重新审视 (re-examine)

3

适婚青年的焦虑往往源于社会期待与个人追求的冲突。

The anxiety of marriageable youth often stems from the conflict between social expectations and personal pursuits.

源于 (stems from)

4

该项研究旨在分析不同阶层适婚男女的择偶偏好。

The study aims to analyze the mate preferences of marriageable men and women from different social classes.

旨在 (aims to)

5

随着受教育程度提高，适婚年龄的界定变得愈发模糊。

As education levels rise, the definition of marriageable age becomes increasingly blurred.

愈发 (increasingly)

6

政府试图通过经济补贴来缓解适婚人群的生育顾虑。

The government is trying to alleviate the childbearing concerns of the marriageable population through economic subsidies.

通过...来 (through... in order to)

7

在快节奏的都市生活中，适婚青年往往缺乏社交时间。

In the fast-paced urban life, marriageable youth often lack time for socializing.

Locative + Subject + Adverb + Verb

8

适婚这一概念在某种程度上反映了父权社会的遗留影响。

The concept of 'marriageable' to some extent reflects the residual influence of patriarchal society.

反映了...影响 (reflects the influence)

1

适婚人口的断层式下降预示着未来人口老龄化的加剧。

The cliff-like drop in the marriageable population foreshadows the intensification of future population aging.

断层式 (cliff-like/fault-style)

2

当下社会对“适婚”的刻板印象正遭受青年一代的解构。

Current social stereotypes of 'marriageable' are being deconstructed by the younger generation.

遭受...解构 (undergoing deconstruction)

3

适婚青年的单身潮并非简单的个人选择，而是复杂的社会产物。

The wave of singleness among marriageable youth is not a simple personal choice, but a complex social product.

并非...而是 (is not... but rather)

4

如何平衡适婚人群的职业发展与家庭构建是政策制定的难点。

How to balance the career development and family building of the marriageable population is a difficulty in policy-making.

平衡 A 与 B (balance A and B)

5

适婚这一标签往往掩盖了青年群体内部巨大的个体差异。

The label 'marriageable' often masks the vast individual differences within the youth group.

掩盖 (to mask/cover up)

6

在资本逻辑下，适婚人群被异化为一系列消费数据的集合。

Under the logic of capital, the marriageable population is alienated into a collection of consumption data.

被异化为 (alienated into)

7

适婚观念的嬗变折射出中国社会从传统向现代的痛苦转型。

The evolution of the concept of marriageability reflects the painful transformation of Chinese society from tradition to modernity.

嬗变 (evolution/mutation), 折射 (reflects)

8

我们必须警惕适婚压力对青年心理健康所造成的潜在负面影响。

We must be wary of the potential negative impact that marriageable pressure has on the mental health of youth.

警惕...对...所造成的影响

Common Collocations

适婚年龄
适婚青年
适婚对象
适婚人群
适婚男女
法定适婚年龄
推迟适婚年龄
达到适婚年龄
大龄适婚青年
适婚阶段

Common Phrases

到了适婚年龄

— To have reached the age where one should or can get married.

你已经到了适婚年龄，该考虑终身大事了。

寻找适婚对象

— To look for a potential partner who is also ready for marriage.

他通过朋友介绍寻找适婚对象。

适婚青年群体

— The collective group of young people at the marriageable stage.

适婚青年群体的价值观正在发生变化。

非适婚人口

— People who are not in the marriageable age range (too young or too old).

非适婚人口不在本次调查范围内。

处于适婚期

— To be in the period of life suitable for marriage.

她正处于适婚期，追求者很多。

适婚男女比例

— The gender ratio among the marriageable population.

适婚男女比例严重失衡。

适婚住房需求

— The housing demand from those looking to marry.

适婚住房需求推动了房价上涨。

大龄适婚

— Being at the older end of the marriageable age bracket.

大龄适婚女性面临更多社会偏见。

错过适婚年龄

— To have passed the age generally considered ideal for marriage.

他觉得自己已经错过了适婚年龄。

适婚资源

— A somewhat clinical/cynical way to refer to potential partners in a market.

大城市的适婚资源比较丰富。

Idioms & Expressions

"男大当婚，女大当嫁"

— When a man grows up he should marry; when a girl grows up she should wed.

常言道，男大当婚，女大当嫁，你也该找个伴了。

Common Saying
"谈婚论嫁"

— To talk about marriage; to be at the stage of planning a wedding.

他们交往多年，终于到了谈婚论嫁的时候。

Neutral
"男才女貌"

— Talented man and beautiful woman; an ideal couple.

他们真是男才女貌，非常适婚的一对。

Complimentary
"门当户对"

— Families of equal social status; a traditional criterion for being 'marriageable' to each other.

长辈们依然看重门当户对。

Traditional
"终身大事"

— The great event of one's life (referring to marriage).

结婚是人生中的终身大事。

Formal/Serious
"早生贵子"

— Give birth to a son soon (a common wedding wish for '适婚' couples).

祝你们新婚快乐，早生贵子。

Social/Ceremonial
"天作之合"

— A match made in heaven.

他们两人真是天作之合。

Formal/Complimentary
"剩男剩女"

— Leftover men and women (those who have passed the '适婚' age without marrying).

社会上关于剩男剩女的讨论很多。

Informal/Slang (Sensitive)
"相亲相爱"

— To love and cherish each other.

希望你们结婚后能相亲相爱。

Neutral
"百年好合"

— A harmonious union lasting a hundred years.

新婚大吉，百年好合！

Formal/Ceremonial

Word Family

Nouns

婚姻 (hūnyīn) - marriage
婚礼 (hūnlǐ) - wedding ceremony
婚龄 (hūnlíng) - marriage age
婚事 (hūnshì) - wedding/marital affairs

Verbs

结婚 (jiéhūn) - to get married
订婚 (dìnghūn) - to get engaged
离婚 (líhūn) - to divorce
征婚 (zhēnghūn) - to look for a spouse

Adjectives

已婚 (yǐhūn) - married
未婚 (wèihūn) - unmarried
新婚 (xīnhūn) - newlywed
适龄 (shìlíng) - of the right age

Related

相亲 (xiāngqīn) - blind date
对象 (duìxiàng) - partner/prospect
单身 (dānshēn) - single
聘礼 (pìnlǐ) - bride price
嫁妆 (jiàzhuāng) - dowry
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