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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing getting engaged with 订婚 (dìnghūn)

    Actions & Events
    Topic & Focus

    Structure

    宣布 + 订婚

    Explanation

    订婚 (dìnghūn) means "to get engaged" or "engagement." It combines 订 (to settle/arrange) with 婚 (marriage), referring to the formal agreement to marry. It can be used as both a verb (他们订婚了) and a noun (宣布订婚). The related term 婚礼 refers to the wedding ceremony itself.

    Examples

    • 他们相恋三年后终于订婚了。

      tāmen xiāngliàn sān nián hòu zhōngyú dìnghūn le.

      They finally got engaged after three years of dating.

    • 听说小李上个月和女朋友订婚了，你知道吗？

      tīngshuō xiǎo lǐ shàng gè yuè hé nǚpéngyǒu dìnghūn le, nǐ zhīdào ma?

      I heard Xiao Li got engaged to his girlfriend last month — did you know?

    • 她在朋友圈宣布订婚的消息，大家都纷纷祝福。

      tā zài péngyǒuquān xuānbù dìnghūn de xiāoxi, dàjiā dōu fēnfēn zhùfú.

      She announced her engagement on her social media, and everyone sent their congratulations.

    Expressing getting engaged with 订婚 (dìnghūn) | Chinese Grammar