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Answer to Chinese Terms of Endearment: Who Is Your “爱人(àiren)”?

Jul. 20, 2015

Answer: A

In Chinese, “爱(ài)” means “love” and “人(rén)” means “person/people,” so “爱人(àiren)” literally means “the person you love.” However, the term can’t be used to refer to every person that you love: not your girlfriend, not your boyfriend, and not your lover. The term is reserved only for your husband or wife.

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Comments

This so called ai-ren is referred as “husband and wife” under communist took over the China. But in general should be boyfriend or girlfriend; which means the person who you loved dearly. And also you can mean that love everyone.

Hi Margaret. In China, people always use the term “爱人” refers to “husband or wife” , not only under communism. People will say “我的男朋友(wǒde nán péngyou) My boyfriend” or “我的女朋友(wǒde nǚ péngyou) My girlfriend” before they get married.

lover

Ok I got it.wife or husband only.

I don’t understand because, when I was on China, a Chinese women told me it sas notre the right word whenI used itv to speak about my husband.

ni how…xiexie

bu ke qi

xiexie,

Yes, you are right that ”爱” means love and “人” means person. If, we put these two words together it means airen and its mean husband or wife.
I really appreciate the way you have explained.
谢谢你

谢谢 thanks for these informations

How did 爱人 come to mean “lover” in mainland China? This sounds very strange to overseas Chinese. I doubt that this meant spouse before the communist revolution.

Xie xie

谢谢

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