Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== tuōdān: 脱单 - To Stop Being Single, To Find a Partner ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** tuodan, 脱单, tuo dan, Chinese dating slang, stop being single in Chinese, find a partner Chinese, get out of being single, 单身狗, dānshēn gǒu, Chinese relationship terms, what does tuodan mean * **Summary:** "脱单" (tuōdān) is a hugely popular modern Chinese slang term meaning "to stop being single" or "to successfully find a romantic partner." It literally translates to "escaping singlehood" and captures the goal-oriented, often triumphant feeling of entering a relationship. This term is essential for understanding contemporary Chinese youth culture, online dating, and the social pressures surrounding relationships in China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** tuō dān * **Part of Speech:** Verb-object phrase (often functions as a verb) * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** To successfully end one's single status by entering a romantic relationship. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine your relationship status is a box labeled "Single." "脱单" is the action of breaking out of that box. It's not just "dating someone"; it's the specific event of transitioning from single to non-single. It carries a sense of achievement, like completing a mission, which is why it's so common to hear young people in China state their goal is to "脱单" this year. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **脱 (tuō):** To take off (as in clothes), to escape from, to shed (as a snake sheds its skin). In this context, the meaning is "to escape" or "to get out of." * **单 (dān):** Single, alone, one. Here, it specifically refers to the relationship status of being "single." When combined, **脱单 (tuōdān)** creates a vivid and intuitive image: "to escape from being single." It's an active, deliberate process of changing one's status. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== "脱单" is more than just a word; it's a window into modern Chinese social dynamics. While finding a partner is a universal human experience, "脱单" is framed by a unique cultural backdrop. In China, there is significant social and familial pressure to be in a relationship and eventually marry by a certain age. This has led to concepts like **[[剩女]] (shèngnǚ)**, or "leftover women," a term for unmarried women (often highly educated and successful) past their mid-to-late twenties. The intense pressure to avoid this label makes "脱单" feel less like a casual romantic development and more like a necessary life goal or a project to be completed. Compare this to the Western phrase "to get into a relationship." While similar, the Western concept is generally seen as a more natural, passive progression. "脱单," however, feels more active and urgent. It’s the triumphant declaration at the finish line of a race you were pressured to run. This feeling is amplified on social media and during holidays like Singles' Day (双十一), where "祝你早日脱单" (I hope you find a partner soon!) is a common, well-intentioned blessing among friends. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== "脱单" is quintessential slang. It's used constantly in informal settings among friends, peers, and especially online. * **On Social Media:** Announcing you have a new partner is often done with a simple post: "我脱单了!" (Wǒ tuōdān le! - I'm not single anymore!). This is often accompanied by a photo of the new couple. * **Setting Goals:** It's extremely common to hear people state "脱单" as a New Year's resolution or personal goal. * **In Conversation:** Friends will ask each other "你脱单了吗？" (Nǐ tuōdān le ma? - Have you found someone yet?) as a casual way to check in on their love life. It's almost always used in a positive or goal-oriented way. The connotation is one of success, relief, or aspiration. You would **never** use this term in a formal or professional context. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我最好的朋友终于**脱单**了，我真为她高兴！ * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu zhōngyú **tuōdān** le, wǒ zhēn wèi tā gāoxìng! * English: My best friend finally found a partner, I'm so happy for her! * Analysis: A classic celebratory use of the term. "终于" (zhōngyú - finally) emphasizes the feeling that it was a long-awaited achievement. * **Example 2:** * 我今年的新年愿望就是成功**脱单**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jīnnián de xīnnián yuànwàng jiùshì chénggōng **tuōdān**. * English: My New Year's resolution this year is to successfully find a partner. * Analysis: This shows "脱单" used as a life goal. The verb "成功" (chénggōng - to succeed) can be added to emphasize the goal-oriented nature. * **Example 3:** * 你看，他又在朋友圈秀恩爱了，也不知道他是什么时候**脱单**的。 * Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, tā yòu zài Péngyǒuquān xiù ēn'ài le, yě bù zhīdào tā shì shénme shíhòu **tuōdān** de. * English: Look, he's showing off his relationship on WeChat Moments again. I don't even know when he stopped being single. * Analysis: This demonstrates how "脱单" refers to the specific moment or event of getting into a relationship. * **Example 4:** * 祝你光棍节之前顺利**脱单**！ * Pinyin: Zhù nǐ Guānggùnjié zhīqián shùnlì **tuōdān**! * English: Hope you successfully find someone before Singles' Day! * Analysis: A common blessing or joke among friends leading up to Singles' Day (November 11th). "顺利" (shùnlì) means "smoothly." * **Example 5:** * 别再叫我单身狗了，我已经**脱单**啦！ * Pinyin: Bié zài jiào wǒ dānshēngǒu le, wǒ yǐjīng **tuōdān** lā! * English: Stop calling me a "single dog," I'm in a relationship now! * Analysis: Shows the direct relationship between "单身狗" (dānshēngǒu - single person) and "脱单". The "啦" (la) particle makes the tone playful and happy. * **Example 6:** * 为了**脱单**，他下载了好几个交友APP。 * Pinyin: Wèile **tuōdān**, tā xiàzàile hǎojǐ ge jiāoyǒu APP. * English: In order to find a partner, he downloaded several dating apps. * Analysis: "为了" (wèile - in order to) highlights "脱单" as the explicit purpose of an action. * **Example 7:** * 我妈天天打电话，就问我什么时候能**脱单**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ mā tiāntiān dǎ diànhuà, jiù wèn wǒ shénme shíhòu néng **tuōdān**. * English: My mom calls me every day just to ask when I'll be able to find a partner. * Analysis: This perfectly captures the element of parental pressure associated with the term. * **Example 8:** * **脱单**其实没那么重要，自己过得开心就好。 * Pinyin: **Tuōdān** qíshí méi nàme zhòngyào, zìjǐ guò de kāixīn jiù hǎo. * English: Finding a partner actually isn't that important; what matters is being happy on your own. * Analysis: A counter-cultural or reflective use of the term, pushing back against social pressure. * **Example 9:** * 恭喜你**脱单**！什么时候请我们吃饭啊？ * Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ **tuōdān**! Shénme shíhòu qǐng wǒmen chīfàn a? * English: Congrats on getting a partner! When are you treating us to a meal? * Analysis: It's common in China for the person with good news (like finding a partner) to treat their friends to a meal to celebrate. * **Example 10:** * 他是母胎单身，所以特别想**脱单**。 * Pinyin: Tā shì mǔtāi dānshēn, suǒyǐ tèbié xiǎng **tuōdān**. * English: He's been single since birth, so he especially wants to find a partner. * Analysis: Connects "脱单" to the slang [[母胎单身]] (mǔtāi dānshēn), meaning someone who has never been in a relationship. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **"脱单" is not "结婚" (jiéhūn):** A huge mistake for learners is to confuse "脱单" with "getting married." "脱单" is just the *first step*—starting a relationship. Marriage ([[结婚]], jiéhūn) is a completely different, and much more serious, stage. * **Incorrect:** ~~他明年要脱单了。~~ (If you mean he's getting married next year). * **Correct:** 他明年要**结婚**了。 (He is getting married next year). * **It's an Action, Not a State:** "脱单" is the event of becoming a couple. To describe the ongoing state of being in a relationship, you should use [[谈恋爱]] (tán liàn'ài). * **Incorrect:** ~~我们正在脱单。~~ (We are in the process of escaping singlehood?) - This sounds awkward. * **Correct:** 我们正在**谈恋爱**。 (We are dating / in a relationship). * **Informal Only:** Do not use this in a business meeting, a formal essay, or when talking to an elder you don't know well. It's youth slang. Stick to more neutral phrases like "找对象" (zhǎo duìxiàng - to look for a partner) in more formal situations. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[单身狗]] (dānshēn gǒu) - Literally "single dog." A popular and self-deprecating slang term for a single person. One must first be a "单身狗" to be able to "脱单". * [[谈恋爱]] (tán liàn'ài) - To be dating; to be in a relationship. This is the state you enter *after* you "脱单". * [[相亲]] (xiāngqīn) - A blind date, often arranged by parents or relatives. A very common method people use in an attempt to "脱单". * [[剩女]] (shèngnǚ) - "Leftover woman." A somewhat derogatory term for an unmarried woman over the age of 27, reflecting the social pressure that makes "脱单" feel urgent. * [[结婚]] (jiéhūn) - To get married. For many, this is the ultimate long-term goal after successfully completing "脱单" and "谈恋爱". * [[秀恩爱]] (xiù ēn'ài) - To show off one's love/relationship, especially on social media (the Chinese equivalent of PDA). This is what couples often do after they "脱单". * [[母胎单身]] (mǔtāi dānshēn) - "Single since the womb." A slang term for someone who has never been in a relationship. Their biggest wish is often to "脱单". * [[光棍]] (guānggùn) - "Bare stick." A more traditional slang term for a bachelor or single man. Singles' Day is called "光棍节" (Guānggùnjié).