Meaning
恋爱 refers to romantic love and the state of being in a romantic relationship. It encompasses both the feeling of romantic love and the act of dating or courting someone. The word emphasizes the emotional and relational aspects of romance rather than marriage.
Usage
恋爱 is commonly used to talk about dating and romantic relationships, especially before marriage. Chinese speakers often use 谈恋爱 (tán liàn ài) as the standard phrase meaning 'to date' or 'to be in a relationship.' It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts when discussing romantic matters.
Examples
- 01他们在大学的时候开始谈恋爱。.They started dating when they were in university.
- 02我觉得现在还不想谈恋爱，想先专注于事业。, .I feel I don't want to be in a relationship right now; I want to focus on my career first.
Characters
Measure words
- 次谈过两次恋爱
- 段一段恋爱
Common collocations
- 谈恋爱to be in a romantic relationship; to date
- 恋爱关系romantic relationship
- 自由恋爱free love; to choose one's own partner
- 初恋first love
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to love and affection. 恋 (liàn) originally depicted lingering attachment, while 爱 (ài) is the general word for love. Together they specifically denote romantic, passionate love.