zàihūn: 再婚 - To Remarry, Remarriage

• Keywords: 再婚, zàihūn, remarry in Chinese, second marriage China, Chinese word for remarriage, getting married again in Chinese, divorce and remarriage in China, zài hūn meaning, Chinese vocabulary marriage.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 再婚 (zàihūn), which means “to remarry” or “remarriage.” This guide provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage in modern China. Discover how to use zàihūn in conversation, understand its historical context, and see how attitudes towards second marriages are rapidly changing in contemporary Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zàihūn
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To marry again after being divorced or widowed; a second or subsequent marriage.
• In a Nutshell: 再婚 (zàihūn) is the standard, neutral term for getting married again. It's formed by combining “again” (再) and “to marry” (婚), making its meaning very straightforward. It can be used as a verb (“they will remarry”) or a noun (“their remarriage was a quiet affair”).

• 再 (zài): This character means “again” or “once more.” It signifies the repetition of an action.
• 婚 (hūn): This character means “to marry” or “marriage.” It's composed of the radical 女 (nǚ), meaning “woman,” and the phonetic component 昏 (hūn), which means “dusk.” This historically points to the tradition of wedding ceremonies taking place in the evening.

When combined, 再婚 (zàihūn) literally translates to “again-marry,” a clear and logical construction for the concept of remarrying.

Historically, the concept of 再婚 (zàihūn), particularly for women, carried significant social stigma in China. Influenced by Confucian ideals of female chastity and loyalty, a widow was often expected to remain unmarried for the rest of her life to honor her deceased husband and his family. This ideal was so strong that “chastity arches” (贞节牌坊, zhēnjié páifāng) were sometimes erected to praise women who upheld this standard. In modern China, this perspective has undergone a dramatic transformation. With rising divorce rates and a greater emphasis on individual happiness and personal choice, 再婚 (zàihūn) has become increasingly common and socially accepted. While older generations might still hold more traditional views, for most urban Chinese, remarrying is seen as a normal part of life. The Western concept of remarriage is very similar, but the key cultural difference lies in the *pace of change*. The shift in attitude in China has occurred remarkably quickly, mostly within the last few decades. This creates a noticeable generational gap in views and makes the topic of 再婚 (zàihūn) a window into China's rapid social modernization. It also brings new social dynamics to the forefront, such as the navigation of blended families, or 组合家庭 (zǔhé jiātíng).

再婚 (zàihūn) is a neutral and widely used term appropriate for both formal and informal settings.

• In Conversation: Friends might discuss their or others' plans to remarry. It's a factual term, not one that carries inherent judgment.
• In Media and News: Journalists and sociologists use it to discuss social trends, such as the rising rate of remarriage (再婚率, zàihūnlǜ).
• In Legal Contexts: It is the official term used in legal documents related to marriage, divorce, and inheritance for individuals entering a new marriage.

The connotation is generally neutral, but the context can imply happiness (a new beginning) or complexity (navigating relationships with ex-spouses and children).

• Example 1:
  • 他离婚两年后再婚了。
  • Pinyin: Tā líhūn liǎng nián hòu zàihūn le.
  • English: He remarried two years after his divorce.
  • Analysis: A simple, factual statement using 再婚 as a verb. The particle 了 (le) indicates the completion of the action.
• Example 2:
  • 你考虑过再婚吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kǎolǜ guò zàihūn ma?
  • English: Have you considered remarrying?
  • Analysis: A common and direct question. The particle 过 (guò) indicates a past experience or consideration.
• Example 3:
  • 对她来说，再婚是一个艰难的决定。
  • Pinyin: Duì tā lái shuō, zàihūn shì yī ge jiānnán de juédìng.
  • English: For her, remarrying was a difficult decision.
  • Analysis: Here, 再婚 functions as a noun, serving as the subject of the sentence.
• Example 4:
  • 他们的再婚让所有人都感到惊讶。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de zàihūn ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu gǎndào jīngyà.
  • English: Their remarriage surprised everyone.
  • Analysis: Another clear example of 再婚 used as a noun, preceded by the possessive particle 的 (de).
• Example 5:
  • 带孩子的女人再婚不容易。
  • Pinyin: Dài háizi de nǚrén zàihūn bù róngyì.
  • English: It's not easy for a woman with children to remarry.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a common social consideration in China regarding remarriage.
• Example 6:
  • 我父母不反对我再婚。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fùmǔ bù fǎnduì wǒ zàihūn.
  • English: My parents don't object to me remarrying.
  • Analysis: Shows how 再婚 is used when discussing family approval or opinions.
• Example 7:
  • 很多丧偶的老人选择再婚来互相陪伴。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō sàng'ǒu de lǎorén xuǎnzé zàihūn lái hùxiāng péibàn.
  • English: Many widowed elderly people choose to remarry for companionship.
  • Analysis: This highlights another common reason for remarriage, especially among the elderly.
• Example 8:
  • 如果我找不到对的人，我宁愿单身也不再婚。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ zhǎo bu dào duì de rén, wǒ nìngyuàn dānshēn yě bù zàihūn.
  • English: If I can't find the right person, I'd rather stay single than remarry.
  • Analysis: A sentence expressing a personal preference or condition about remarrying.
• Example 9:
  • 再婚家庭需要面对更多复杂的问题。
  • Pinyin: Zàihūn jiātíng xūyào miànduì gèng duō fùzá de wèntí.
  • English: Remarried (blended) families need to face more complex issues.
  • Analysis: 再婚 is used here as an adjective to describe “family” (家庭, jiātíng).
• Example 10:
  • 社会对再婚的看法越来越开放了。
  • Pinyin: Shèhuì duì zàihūn de kànfǎ yuèláiyuè kāifàng le.
  • English: Society's view on remarriage is becoming more and more open.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly addresses the changing cultural context discussed earlier.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 再婚 (zàihūn) and 复婚 (fùhūn).

• 再婚 (zàihūn): To remarry in general. This means marrying someone *new* after a divorce or the death of a spouse.
• 复婚 (fùhūn): To remarry one's *ex-spouse*. The character 复 (fù) means “to restore” or “to repeat,” so it specifically implies getting back together with the same person you divorced.

Incorrect Usage:

• (Incorrect) 他和他的前妻再婚了。
• Pinyin: Tā hé tā de qiánqī zàihūn le.
• English: He remarried his ex-wife.
• Why it's not ideal: While not grammatically wrong, it's imprecise. Chinese speakers would almost always use 复婚 (fùhūn) in this situation because it's more specific and accurate.

Correct Usage:

• 他和他的前妻复婚了。 (He got back together with/remarried his ex-wife.)
• 他离婚后，很快就和别人再婚了。(After he divorced, he quickly remarried someone else.)

Mistaking these two can lead to significant misunderstandings about a person's relationship situation.

• 离婚 (líhūn) - To divorce. This is often the event that precedes a 再婚.
• 复婚 (fùhūn) - To remarry one's ex-spouse. The most important term to distinguish from 再婚.
• 结婚 (jiéhūn) - To marry; marriage. The foundational concept.
• 丧偶 (sàng'ǒu) - To be widowed. The other primary reason one might 再婚.
• 单身 (dānshēn) - Single. The status of a person before they marry or remarry.
• 前夫 (qiánfū) - Ex-husband. A key figure in discussions about divorce and remarriage.
• 前妻 (qiánqī) - Ex-wife. The female counterpart to 前夫.
• 继父 (jìfù) - Stepfather. A new family role created through a mother's 再婚.
• 继母 (jìmǔ) - Stepmother. A new family role created through a father's 再婚.
• 组合家庭 (zǔhé jiātíng) - Blended family. A term for a family unit formed by a couple where one or both have children from a previous marriage.