爱人 àiren spouse (mainland China)
spouse (mainland China); lover (non-PRC)
How to remember 爱人: 爱 love + 人 person = spouse (mainland China).
Characters
How it is used
- In mainland China this is a neutral word for one's spouse (husband OR wife) - 这是我爱人 (zhè shì wǒ àiren) this is my husband/wife.
- False-friend trap: it does NOT mean 'lover/mistress'. In Taiwan and among many younger speakers it can read as 'lover', so 老公/老婆 (lǎogōng/lǎopo) or 先生/太太 are safer in mixed company.
- Note the neutral tone: àiren, not àirén.
Example sentences
- 这是我爱人做的菜。 Zhè shì wǒ àiren zuò de cài.This dish was made by my spouse.