When talking about marital status in Chinese, 未婚 (wèihūn) is a straightforward and common term meaning 'unmarried'.
It's an adjective that literally translates to 'not yet married'.
You'll often see it used in official forms or when describing someone's marital status directly.
For example, if someone asks about your marital status, you can simply say '我未婚' (Wǒ wèihūn) meaning 'I am unmarried'.
Fun Fact
The character 婚 (hūn) originally depicted a woman marrying at dusk, reflecting ancient Chinese marriage customs where ceremonies often took place at sunset.
Grammar to Know
未 (wèi) is a common negative adverb meaning 'not yet' or 'not'. It is often used in formal contexts or fixed phrases.
他 未 到场。 (Tā wèi dàochǎng.) He has not yet arrived.
婚 (hūn) means 'marriage' or 'to marry'. It is often found in words related to marital status.
结婚 (jiéhūn) - to get married.
When 未 (wèi) is placed before a verb or adjective, it negates the action or state, often implying 'not yet' or 'un-'.
未完成 (wèi wánchéng) - unfinished (not yet completed).
未婚 (wèihūn) is typically used as an adjective to describe someone's marital status. It can directly precede a noun or be used after a verb like 是 (shì) 'to be'.
她是一位 未婚 女士。 (Tā shì yī wèi wèihūn nǚshì.) She is an unmarried lady.
It is common to see 未婚 (wèihūn) paired with other words to form more specific terms, such as 未婚夫 (wèihūnfū) 'fiancé' or 未婚妻 (wèihūnqī) 'fiancée'.
我的 未婚妻 很漂亮。 (Wǒ de wèihūnqī hěn piàoliang.) My fiancée is very beautiful.
Examples by Level
他是未婚。
He is unmarried.
她还未婚。
She is still unmarried.
我未婚。
I am unmarried.
这个男人未婚。
This man is unmarried.
这个女人未婚。
This woman is unmarried.
我的朋友未婚。
My friend is unmarried.
他们未婚。
They are unmarried.
你未婚吗？
Are you unmarried?
她一直未婚，直到三十多岁才遇到她的真爱。
She was unmarried until her thirties when she met her true love.
一直 (yīzhí) means 'always' or 'continuously'.
在那个年代，很多女性选择未婚，专注于事业。
In that era, many women chose to remain unmarried and focus on their careers.
选择 (xuǎnzé) means 'to choose'.
他未婚，所以一个人住了很多年。
He is unmarried, so he has lived alone for many years.
所以 (suǒyǐ) means 'so' or 'therefore'.
我的姑姑未婚，但生活很幸福。
My aunt is unmarried, but lives a very happy life.
但 (dàn) means 'but'.
虽然她未婚，但她收养了一个孩子，成为了一个好母亲。
Although she is unmarried, she adopted a child and became a good mother.
虽然...但... (suīrán...dàn...) means 'although...but...'.
他决定未婚，把一生奉献给科学研究。
He decided to remain unmarried and dedicate his life to scientific research.
决定 (juédìng) means 'to decide'.
在一些文化中，未婚女性可能会面临一些社会压力。
In some cultures, unmarried women may face some social pressure.
面临 (miànlín) means 'to face'.
许多年轻人认为，未婚生活让他们更自由。
Many young people believe that unmarried life gives them more freedom.
认为 (rènwéi) means 'to think' or 'to believe'.
她一直未婚，把所有的精力都投入到了工作中。
She has always been unmarried, dedicating all her energy to work.
在我们村子里，有很多未婚的年轻人选择去大城市发展。
In our village, many unmarried young people choose to develop in big cities.
他未婚，所以一个人住一套大房子。
He is unmarried, so he lives alone in a big house.
虽然她已经三十多岁了，但仍然保持着未婚状态。
Although she is over thirty, she remains unmarried.
未婚夫妇在办理结婚登记前需要提交相关证件。
Unmarried couples need to submit relevant documents before registering for marriage.
许多国家有专门针对未婚母亲的福利政策。
Many countries have welfare policies specifically for unmarried mothers.
他的未婚妻是一位非常优秀的医生。
His fiancée is a very excellent doctor.
在过去，未婚的女性常常被认为是社会异类。
In the past, unmarried women were often considered social outcasts.
How to Use It
未婚 (wèihūn) is an adjective that literally means 'not yet married'. It's commonly used to describe someone's marital status. You'll often see it in official documents or personal profiles. For example, 未婚夫 (wèihūnfū) means fiancé, and 未婚妻 (wèihūnqī) means fiancée. It's pretty straightforward to use.
A common mistake is using it as a verb or trying to conjugate it. Remember, it's an adjective. Another mistake is confusing it with 单身 (dānshēn), which means 'single'. While someone who is 未婚 is also 单身, 单身 can refer to someone who is not in a relationship at all, while 未婚 specifically refers to someone who has never been married or is not currently married but might be in a relationship. Think of 未婚 as a legal status, and 单身 as a relationship status.
Word Origin
Composed of two characters: 未 (wèi) meaning 'not yet' or 'not,' and 婚 (hūn) meaning 'marriage' or 'to marry.'
Original meaning: 'Not yet married' or 'unmarried.'
Sino-TibetanCultural Context
In traditional Chinese culture, marriage was a significant life event often arranged by families. Being <span lang="zh-Hans">未婚</span> could imply a person was young or had not yet found a suitable partner. While modern China has seen a shift towards individual choice in marriage, the term still clearly denotes someone who has not yet tied the knot. It's a straightforward descriptor without the negative connotations sometimes associated with terms like 'spinster' or 'bachelor' in other languages.
Test Yourself 48 questions
Choose the correct translation for 'unmarried'.
未婚 (wèi hūn) means 'unmarried'. 已婚 (yǐ hūn) means 'married'. 单身 (dān shēn) means 'single'. 离婚 (lí hūn) means 'divorced'.
Which sentence uses '未婚' correctly?
未婚 (wèi hūn) describes a person's marital status. The first sentence correctly uses it to say 'She is an unmarried woman.' The other sentences use it incorrectly.
Which of these words has the opposite meaning of '未婚'?
未婚 (wèi hūn) means 'unmarried'. 已婚 (yǐ hūn) means 'married', which is its opposite. 朋友 (péng yǒu) means 'friend', 学生 (xué shēng) means 'student', and 工作 (gōng zuò) means 'work'.
The word '未婚' can describe a man.
Yes, '未婚' can describe both men and women who are unmarried.
If someone is '未婚', it means they are married.
No, '未婚' means 'unmarried'.
You can use '未婚' to talk about a single person who has never been married.
Yes, '未婚' is commonly used to describe someone who has never been married.
This means 'She is unmarried.'
This means 'Are you unmarried?'
This means 'He is an unmarried man.'
她还是___，没有男朋友。
The sentence indicates she doesn't have a boyfriend, implying she is unmarried. '未婚' means unmarried.
他的个人资料上写着“___”。
If someone is unmarried, their personal information would state '未婚'. '单身' means single, which is similar but '未婚' specifically refers to marital status.
在一些文化中，女性在___时通常佩戴特定的首饰。
Some cultures have specific jewelry for unmarried women. '未婚' means unmarried.
“未婚”的意思是已经结婚了。
“未婚”的意思是没有结婚，而不是已经结婚了。
如果一个人是“未婚”，那么他/她就没有配偶。
“未婚”意味着没有结婚，所以没有合法的配偶。
“未婚夫”和“未婚妻”是用来指那些还没结婚，但是准备结婚的人。
“未婚夫” (fiancé) 和 “未婚妻” (fiancée) 指的是已经订婚但尚未结婚的人。
她还___，所以没有结婚的打算。
The sentence implies she has no plans to marry because she is currently 'unmarried'. '年轻' (young) or '单身' (single) could fit, but '未婚' directly refers to her marital status and links to the idea of not having marriage plans yet.
在一些文化中，___的女性会受到更多的家庭压力。
The sentence discusses societal pressure, which is often related to marital status, especially for women in certain cultures. '未婚' (unmarried) directly addresses this context.
尽管她已经35岁了，但仍然___，享受着单身生活。
The sentence indicates her age and her current enjoyment of single life, making '未婚' (unmarried) the most appropriate word to describe her marital status.
调查显示，越来越多的人选择___生活，而不是早早结婚。
The sentence talks about a trend where people choose not to marry early, making '未婚' (unmarried) the correct term to describe their chosen lifestyle.
他是一位成功的商人，但至今仍是___。
The sentence describes a successful businessman who is still 'unmarried'. While '单身汉' (bachelor) is similar, '未婚' is a more direct and formal term for 'unmarried'.
公司为所有员工提供了医疗保险，包括已婚和___的员工。
The sentence contrasts with '已婚' (married), so '未婚' (unmarried) is the direct opposite and the correct term to complete the pair in the context of employee benefits.
她还很年轻，所以还是___。
Based on the context '她还很年轻' (she is still very young), it is most logical that she is 'unmarried'.
我的姐姐虽然年纪不小了，但仍然是___状态。
The phrase '年纪不小了，但仍然是...' implies a contrast, meaning despite her age, she is still unmarried.
在一些传统文化中，女性在结婚前被称为___女性。
Before marriage, a woman is referred to as 'unmarried'.
如果一个人是'未婚'，那么他/她已经结婚了。
'未婚' specifically means not yet married.
在填写个人资料时，如果选择'未婚'，意味着这个人没有配偶。
Selecting 'unmarried' indicates the absence of a spouse.
一个人只有在年轻时才能被称为'未婚'。
'未婚' describes marital status, not age. An older person can also be unmarried.
Imagine you are describing someone you know to a friend. Write a few sentences introducing them, including whether they are married or unmarried. Use '未婚' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我有一个好朋友叫李明，他今年三十岁，工作很努力，但是他还是未婚。他正在努力寻找他的另一半。
Write a short paragraph about the current trends in marriage and being unmarried in China, discussing social perceptions or personal choices. Use '未婚' correctly in context.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
近年来，中国社会对于未婚的看法越来越开放。许多年轻人选择保持未婚状态，专注于事业或享受个人自由。这反映了社会观念的变化。
You are writing a character profile for a story. Describe a character's relationship status and how they feel about being '未婚'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
张丽是一个独立自主的女性，她三十五岁，目前是未婚。她不认为婚姻是人生的必需品，反而享受着自由自在的生活，并对未来充满期待。
根据短文，'剩女'这个词通常用来形容哪种女性？
Read this passage:
在中国，‘剩女’这个词通常用来形容那些年龄较大但仍然未婚的女性。然而，这个词的含义近年来也引起了很多争议。一些人认为这是一种歧视，而另一些人则认为这反映了社会对女性在婚姻方面的期望。
根据短文，'剩女'这个词通常用来形容哪种女性？
短文明确提到，'剩女'这个词通常用来形容那些年龄较大但仍然未婚的女性。
短文明确提到，'剩女'这个词通常用来形容那些年龄较大但仍然未婚的女性。
根据短文，人们选择晚婚或保持未婚状态的原因不包括以下哪一项？
Read this passage:
随着社会的发展，越来越多的人选择晚婚甚至保持未婚状态。这不仅仅是因为经济压力，也与个人价值观和生活方式的改变有关。例如，一些人更愿意将时间和精力投入到事业发展和自我提升中。
根据短文，人们选择晚婚或保持未婚状态的原因不包括以下哪一项？
短文提到了经济压力、个人价值观和生活方式的改变，但没有提及家庭的反对。
短文提到了经济压力、个人价值观和生活方式的改变，但没有提及家庭的反对。
王先生对保持未婚状态的态度是怎样的？
Read this passage:
王先生今年四十岁，事业有成，但他一直保持未婚。他觉得婚姻不是必需品，而是锦上添花。他更看重个人自由和精神层面的满足。虽然父母偶尔会催促他结婚，但他总是微笑着说：“缘分到了，自然会来。”
王先生对保持未婚状态的态度是怎样的？
短文提到王先生认为婚姻不是必需品，而是锦上添花，他更看重个人自由和精神层面的满足。
短文提到王先生认为婚姻不是必需品，而是锦上添花，他更看重个人自由和精神层面的满足。
她决定专注于事业，因此在她的30岁生日时仍然是___。
The sentence implies she chose not to marry to focus on her career, making '未婚' (unmarried) the correct choice.
尽管社会压力不断，他坚持己见，保持___的状态。
'未婚' refers to the legal status of not being married, which fits the context of social pressure about marriage. While '单身' (single) is also possible, '未婚' more directly addresses the marital status in this formal context.
她对自己的未来有很多规划，其中并不包括在近期内告别___生活。
The phrase '告别未婚生活' (to bid farewell to unmarried life) is a common idiom meaning to get married. The sentence implies she has no immediate plans to marry.
在现代社会，选择保持未婚状态的人数日益增加，这反映了个人价值观的变化。
This statement is generally true; there is a growing trend of individuals choosing to remain unmarried due to evolving personal values and societal norms.
尽管科技发展，传统观念认为所有成年人都应该尽快结婚，因此未婚现象越来越少。
This statement is false. While traditional views persist, the prevalence of unmarried individuals is increasing, indicating a shift away from universal marriage expectations, especially in developed societies.
在一些法律体系中，未婚伴侣享有与已婚伴侣完全相同的法律权利和义务。
This statement is generally false. While some legal systems offer certain protections or recognition to unmarried partners (e.g., common-law marriage in some jurisdictions), their rights and obligations are typically not identical to those of legally married couples, especially regarding inheritance, property, and spousal support.
Focus on understanding the speaker's attitude towards being unmarried at her age.
Listen for the overall message about societal changes regarding marriage.
Pay attention to the reason provided for choosing to remain unmarried.
Read this aloud:
未婚的你，对未来有什么规划？
Focus: wei hun de ni, dui wei lai you shen me gui hua?
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
越来越多的人选择未婚，你认为这背后的原因是什么？
Focus: yue lai yue duo de ren xuan ze wei hun, ni ren wei zhe bei hou de yuan yin shi shen me?
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你是未婚人士，你会如何向家人解释你的选择？
Focus: ru guo ni shi wei hun ren shi, ni hui ru he xiang jia ren jie shi ni de xuan ze?
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Example
他目前仍是未婚。
