配偶 pèi’ǒu spouse
How to remember 配偶: 配 to blend + 偶 accidentally = spouse.
Characters
How it is used
- The formal/legal word for 'spouse' - 配偶信息 (pèi'ǒu xìnxī) spouse information (on forms).
- Official register: used on documents, in law, and statistics; gender-neutral, covers husband or wife.
- In daily speech people say 老公/老婆/爱人; 配偶 belongs to paperwork and formal contexts.