Keywords: hunwaiqing, 婚外情, extramarital affair in Chinese, Chinese affair, cheating in Chinese, infidelity in China, hūn wài qíng, what is hunwaiqing, Chinese relationship terms, 小三, 出轨.
Summary: “婚外情 (hūn wài qíng)” is the Chinese term for an extramarital affair or infidelity. Composed of the characters for “marriage,” “outside,” and “feeling,” it describes a romantic and emotional relationship that a married person has with someone other than their spouse. Understanding “婚外情” is key to grasping Chinese perspectives on marriage, loyalty, and social responsibility, as such affairs are viewed not just as personal betrayals but as serious violations of family honor and social harmony.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): hūn wài qíng
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
Concise Definition: A romantic and emotional affair that occurs outside of a marriage.
In a Nutshell: “婚外情” literally translates to “marriage-outside-feeling.” It's more than just physical cheating; the character `情 (qíng)` for “feeling” or “emotion” is crucial. The term implies an ongoing, emotionally-invested relationship that runs parallel to the marriage, making it a particularly deep and serious form of betrayal in Chinese culture.
Character Breakdown
婚 (hūn): Marriage, wedding. The character is composed of the radical for “woman” (女) and a phonetic component (昏 hūn), which originally meant dusk. This points to the ancient tradition of holding wedding ceremonies at dusk.
外 (wài): Outside, external, outer.
情 (qíng): Feeling, emotion, passion, sentiment. The heart radical (忄or 心) on the left side signifies that this character is related to feelings and matters of the heart.
These characters combine transparently: feelings and emotions (情) that exist outside (外) of the marriage (婚).
Cultural Context and Significance
A Threat to Family and Social Harmony: In Chinese culture, marriage is often seen as a union of two families and a cornerstone of social stability. A `婚外情` is therefore not just a private matter. It is a profound betrayal that can bring shame (丢脸, diūliǎn) to the entire family, disrupt social networks, and damage one's public reputation or “face” (面子, miànzi).
Comparison to Western “Affairs”: While infidelity is condemned in most cultures, the emphasis in the West is often on the betrayal of trust between two individuals. In China, the collectivist context amplifies the consequences. A `婚外情` is seen as an act of deep irresponsibility towards one's spouse, children, parents, and in-laws. This is why it is a dominant and dramatic theme in many Chinese TV shows—it represents a fundamental threat to the social order.
Moral and Legal Weight: The term carries strong moral condemnation. Legally, evidence of a `婚外情` can be a significant factor in divorce proceedings, potentially affecting the division of assets and child custody arrangements.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Common Contexts: You will frequently encounter `婚外情` in news reports about scandals, as the central plot of TV dramas (电视剧, diànshìjù) and movies, in legal discussions surrounding divorce, and in serious or gossipy conversations about relationships.
Connotation and Formality: The term has an overwhelmingly negative connotation. It is a standard, semi-formal word used to describe the situation seriously. In casual gossip, the verb `出轨 (chūguǐ)`, meaning “to cheat,” is more common. The person involved in the affair (the “mistress” or “other man”) is often derogatorily referred to as a `小三 (xiǎosān)`.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他的婚姻因为一段婚外情而破裂了。
Pinyin: Tā de hūnyīn yīnwèi yī duàn hūnwàiqíng ér pòliè le.
English: His marriage fell apart because of an extramarital affair.
Analysis: A straightforward sentence stating the consequence of a `婚外情`. `一段 (yī duàn)` is a measure word for a period of time or a story, fitting for an affair.
Example 2:
她最近发现丈夫有婚外情，非常痛苦。
Pinyin: Tā zuìjìn fāxiàn zhàngfu yǒu hūnwàiqíng, fēicháng tòngkǔ.
English: She recently discovered her husband is having an extramarital affair and is in great pain.
Analysis: This sentence highlights the emotional impact on the betrayed spouse. `有 (yǒu)` here means “to have” in the sense of a condition or situation.
Example 3:
这部电视剧讲述了一个关于婚外情的复杂故事。
Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù jiǎngshù le yī gè guānyú hūnwàiqíng de fùzá gùshi.
English: This TV drama tells a complex story about an extramarital affair.
Analysis: Shows how `婚外情` is a common topic in popular media. `关于 (guānyú)` means “about” or “regarding.”
Example 4:
在我们的文化里，婚外情是不道德的。
Pinyin: Zài wǒmen de wénhuà lǐ, hūnwàiqíng shì bù dàodé de.
English: In our culture, extramarital affairs are immoral.
Analysis: This sentence explicitly states the strong moral judgment associated with the term. `不道德的 (bù dàodé de)` means “unethical” or “immoral.”
Example 5:
他们离婚的主要原因就是男方的婚外情。
Pinyin: Tāmen líhūn de zhǔyào yuányīn jiùshì nánfāng de hūnwàiqíng.
English: The main reason for their divorce was the husband's extramarital affair.
Analysis: `男方 (nánfāng)` means “the male side” or “the husband's side,” a common way to refer to parties in a formal or legal context.
Example 6:
你认为他会为了这段婚外情而放弃家庭吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ rènwéi tā huì wèile zhè duàn hūnwàiqíng ér fàngqì jiātíng ma?
English: Do you think he would give up his family for this affair?
Analysis: A question exploring the potential consequences and choices involved. `为了…而… (wèile…ér…)` is a common structure meaning “in order to… (do something).”
Example 7:
他们的婚外情已经持续了好几年了。
Pinyin: Tāmen de hūnwàiqíng yǐjīng chíxù le hǎo jǐ nián le.
English: Their extramarital affair has already been going on for several years.
Analysis: Emphasizes the ongoing nature implied by `婚外情`. `持续 (chíxù)` means “to continue” or “to last.”
Example 8:
那位官员的婚外情丑闻毁掉了他的政治生涯。
Pinyin: Nà wèi guānyuán de hūnwàiqíng chǒuwén huǐdiào le tā de zhèngzhì shēngyá.
English: That official's extramarital affair scandal ruined his political career.
Analysis: Demonstrates the severe social and professional consequences. `丑闻 (chǒuwén)` means “scandal.”
English: This isn't just a one-night stand, it's a real extramarital affair, because they have feelings for each other.
Analysis: Directly contrasts `婚外情` with `一夜情 (yīyèqíng)` to highlight the importance of the emotional connection (`感情, gǎnqíng`).
Example 10:
律师正在搜集他婚外情的证据。
Pinyin: Lǜshī zhèngzài sōují tā hūnwàiqíng de zhèngjù.
English: The lawyer is currently collecting evidence of his extramarital affair.
Analysis: Shows the term's use in a legal context. `证据 (zhèngjù)` means “evidence.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing `婚外情` with `一夜情` (yīyèqíng).
A common mistake is to use `婚外情` for any act of infidelity. However, `婚外情` specifically implies an ongoing relationship with emotional depth. For a purely physical, short-term encounter, the term `一夜情 (yīyèqíng)`, or “one-night stand,” is more appropriate. The key differentiator is the `情` (feeling).
Mistake 2: Underestimating the term's gravity.
In English, “having an affair” can sometimes be discussed with a degree of neutrality, depending on the context. In Chinese, `婚外情` is almost never neutral. It carries an inherent and heavy moral judgment. Using it lightly or in the wrong context can make you seem insensitive to the strong cultural values attached to marital loyalty and family honor.
Incorrect Usage Example:
`他昨天有一个婚外情。` (Tā zuótiān yǒu yī gè hūnwàiqíng.)
Why it's wrong: This sounds like “He had an extramarital affair yesterday.” An affair (`婚外情`) is a state or an ongoing relationship, not a single event that happens on one day. You would more likely use the verb `出轨 (chūguǐ)` to describe the act of cheating, e.g., `他出轨了 (Tā chūguǐ le) - He cheated.`
Related Terms and Concepts
出轨 (chūguǐ) - Literally “to go off the rails.” The most common verb for “to cheat on someone.” It's more of an action, whereas `婚外情` is the resulting state/relationship.
小三 (xiǎosān) - “Little three.” A popular and derogatory slang term for the third person in an affair, usually the mistress.
第三者 (dìsānzhě) - “The third party.” A more formal and neutral term for the person with whom someone is having an affair.
一夜情 (yīyèqíng) - “One-night stand.” A relationship defined by its brevity and lack of emotional commitment, contrasting sharply with `婚外情`.
背叛 (bèipàn) - To betray. This is the core action and feeling associated with a `婚外情`.
离婚 (líhūn) - To divorce. A very common legal and social consequence of a `婚外情`.
婚姻 (hūnyīn) - Marriage; matrimony. The social institution that `婚外情` violates.
忠诚 (zhōngchéng) - Loyalty; faithfulness. The quality that is absent in a `婚外情`; the ideal in a marriage.
面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; social standing; reputation. A `婚外情` causes a severe loss of `面子` for everyone involved.