明媒正娶
míng méi zhèng qǔ
married properly, with all the formalities
Character by character
明míng
openly
openly
媒méi
matchmaker
matchmaker
正zhèng
properly
properly
娶qǔ
wed
wed
Example
我是你明媒正娶的媳妇，有什么事不能跟我商量？
I’m your lawfully wedded wife, so what can’t you talk over with me?
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
In old China it marked the wife, wed through a matchmaker and the full rites, off from a concubine or an elopement. Today it is said half in jest, or to insist on a marriage done properly.
Learn this in Lesson 42 · HSK 5–6: 婚礼这一天 (The wedding day)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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