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March 24, 2026
娶qǔ(qu3)
娶 (qǔ) means 'to take a wife' or 'to marry a woman.' This verb is commonly used in the context of traditional marriage practices in Chinese culture, especially referring to a man marrying a woman. It is often contrasted with '嫁' (jià), which means 'to marry off a daughter' or 'to get married' from the woman's perspective.
Strokes11Radical女Frequency#2250DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of '娶' is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where traditional marriage practices often involve elaborate customs and rituals. It highlights the importance of family lineage and the role of marriage in maintaining familial ties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a man (the character's left side, 女, meaning 'woman') taking a wife (the right side, 取, sounds like 'qǔ'). Picture him happily leading her home, symbolizing the act of marrying. This image links the character's form and meaning, making it easier to remember both the sound and the concept.
Meanings of 娶
qǔ(qu3)
1to take a wife
2to marry (a woman)
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 娶
娶Simplified
11Strokes
女Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2250Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 娶
Podcast: 娶
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AI Study Notes for 娶
Quick Contrast
嫁 (jià) — use 娶 (qǔ) when referring to a man marrying a woman, while 嫁 (jià) focuses on a woman getting married or being married off.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a man (the character's left side, 女, meaning 'woman') taking a wife (the right side, 取, sounds like 'qǔ'). Picture him happily leading her home, symbolizing the act of marrying. This image links the character's form and meaning, making it easier to remember both the sound and the concept.
Usage Notes
While '娶' is a straightforward term for marrying a woman, it is often used in a formal or traditional context. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with '嫁' (jià), which has a different perspective. Additionally, '娶' is typically used in discussions about marriage customs, so the register can be formal.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, '娶' connects to other vocabulary related to family and relationships, such as '结婚' (jiéhūn - to get married) and '家庭' (jiātíng - family). Students should focus on using it in sentences about marriage or family structure to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
The concept of '娶' is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where traditional marriage practices often involve elaborate customs and rituals. It highlights the importance of family lineage and the role of marriage in maintaining familial ties.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '嫁' when referring to a man marrying a woman, saying '他嫁了一个女人' (tā jiàle yīgè nǚrén - he married a woman), which is incorrect. The correct usage would be '他娶了一个女人' (tā qǔle yīgè nǚrén).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 娶
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Grammar Patterns of 娶
娶 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我误认为他要____我。
I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.
Common Confusions with 娶
娶vs取
qǔ
Similar pronunciation and meaning related to taking.
娶vs娼
chāng
Similar shape but different meaning and sound.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to take a wife"?
or
Usage Notes for 娶
Transitive Verb UsageGrammar Tip
娶 is a transitive verb and requires an object, typically referring to a woman.
1
他娶了一个贤妻。
He married a virtuous wife.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
他____了一个贤妻。
He married a virtuous wife.
Example Sentences for 娶 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我误认为他要娶我。
wǒ wù rèn wéi tā yào qǔ wǒ。
I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.
In 1959, Akihito broke with imperial tradition by marrying a commoner.
6
他好像在1963年还是什么时候娶了当时的温哥华小姐。
tā hǎo xiàng zài1963 1963 nián huán shì shí mó shí hòu qǔ le dāng shí de wēn gē huá xiǎo。
He married Miss Vancouver in 1963, or whenever it was.
7
谁要娶了她就只有靠老天保佑了。
shuí yào qǔ le tā jiù zhī yǒu kào lǎo tiān bǎo yòu le。
Heaven help the man she marries.
8
大家都在推测王子会娶谁.
dà jiā dū zài tuī cè wáng zǐ huì qǔ shuí.
Speculation was rife as to whom the prince might marry.
9
我们都知道有某个极其出众的帅哥娶了极其平常的壁花.
wǒ mén dū zhī dào yǒu mǒu gè jí qí chū zhòng de shuài gē qǔ le jí qí píng cháng de bì huā.
We all know drop - dead beautiful person married to an unusually plain wallflower.
10
他有幸娶到如此一位贤妻.
tā yǒu xìng qǔ dào rú cǐ yī wèi xián qī.
He is blessed in having such a good wife.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 娶
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of '娶' is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where traditional marriage practices often involve elaborate customs and rituals. It highlights the importance of family lineage and the role of marriage in maintaining familial ties.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, marriage is often seen as a partnership between equals, whereas in traditional Chinese culture, it can also reflect familial obligations and social status, making the act of '娶' more complex in its implications.
Word Family of 娶
Words Containing This Character8
娶qǔto take a wife
迎娶to marry
娶媳妇to get oneself a wife娶媳婦
嫁娶marriage
娶妻to take a wife
娶亲to take a wife娶親
明媒正娶to be officially wed
续娶to remarry續娶
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 娶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 娶
'娶' specifically refers to a man marrying a woman; women use '嫁' to describe their act of getting married.
'娶' is still used today, especially in formal settings or traditional discussions about marriage.
'娶' is often used in phrases like '娶妻' (qǔ qī - to take a wife) and '娶亲' (qǔ qīn - to marry).
