marriage
marriage — 名詞
1. The legally recognized bond between two people as a couple, together with the ri
婚姻；結婚
兩人依法結為夫妻的關係或儀式
The legally recognized bond between two people as a couple, together with the rights and duties this creates — or the ceremony that establishes this bond.
Min and Jabari celebrated their marriage with a small ceremony at the city hall.
Min 和 Jabari 在市政廳舉行小型典禮，慶祝他們的婚姻。
countable use: a specific ceremony
After forty years of marriage, Christopher's grandparents still held hands at dinner.
度過四十年的婚姻生活後，Christopher 的祖父母晚餐時依然牽著手。
uncountable: length of the relationship
The new law allowed same‑sex couples to enter into a legal marriage.
新法律允許同性伴侶締結合法婚姻。
Amihan's marriage to Noor was followed by a village feast that lasted two days.
Amihan 與 Noor 結婚後，村裡舉辦了一場為期兩天的盛宴。
Through Renata's marriage to Arjun, both families began sharing Sunday dinners together.
透過 Renata 和 Arjun 的婚姻，兩個家庭開始一起共進週日晚餐。
- wedlock
formal or legal term; rarely used in everyday speech ('born out of wedlock')
- matrimony
formal and often religious in tone; less common in casual conversation
- union
broader term; can also refer to non‑romantic alliances
- nuptials
refers specifically to the wedding ceremony, not the ongoing relationship
- divorce
the legal ending of a marriage
- separation
living apart while still legally married
文法句型
someone's marriage to someone
marriage between [two people]
marriage of [duration]
用法筆記
Both uncountable sense (the ongoing relationship, e.g. 'years of marriage') and countable sense (the ceremony, e.g. 'a small marriage') fall under this entry; distinguish by the use of articles and quantifiers.
常見錯誤
2. A long‑term relationship in which two people live together as a couple without b
伴侶關係
未被法律承認但實同夫妻的關係
A long‑term relationship in which two people live together as a couple without being legally married, but which they or their community consider a marriage.
Andrés and Nila called their union a marriage although it was never officially registered.
Andrés 和 Nila 稱他們的關係為婚姻，雖然從未正式登記。
an unregistered relationship treated as a marriage
Theirs was a quiet marriage recognized by friends but not by any official body.
他們的伴侶關係很低調，朋友都認可，但沒有任何官方機構承認。
In Laʼela village, Hui's de facto marriage with Emre was treated with the same respect as any legal union.
在 Laʼela 村，Hui 與 Emre 的事實婚姻受到與任何合法婚姻同等的尊重。
For Lukas and Esme, their marriage was about commitment, not a legal document.
對 Lukas 和 Esme 來說，他們的關係來自彼此的承諾，而非法律文件。
- common‑law marriage
a legally specific term that applies only in jurisdictions that recognize such unions; not equivalent to a purely social arrangement
- de facto relationship
neutral legal term for a cohabiting couple; overlaps with this sense but does not necessarily imply that the couple uses the word 'marriage'
文法句型
someone's marriage to someone
marriage between [two people]
用法筆記
This sense describes a relationship that people call a 'marriage' even though it has no legal status. Distinguish from sense 1 (LEGAL UNION), where legal recognition is central.
3. A marriage agreed to for practical reasons — such as gaining citizenship, financ
權宜婚姻
為實際利益而非愛情締結的婚姻
A marriage agreed to for practical reasons — such as gaining citizenship, financial security, or social status — rather than for romantic love.
Mira entered a marriage of convenience in order to remain in the country.
Mira 為了留在該國而締結了一樁權宜婚姻。
marriage of convenience fixed phrase
Shanti and Hoa agreed to a marriage of convenience to pool their financial resources.
Shanti 和 Hoa 同意締結權宜婚姻以集中財務資源。
The marriage of convenience between the two families was arranged purely for business reasons.
這兩個家族之間的權宜婚姻純粹是為了商業考量而安排的。
Élise married Aaron for a work visa, but their marriage of convenience gradually turned into real love.
Élise 為了工作簽證而與 Aaron 結婚，但這樁權宜婚姻逐漸變成了真愛。
- arranged marriage
overlaps but differs: arranged marriages may still aim for love or compatibility; marriages of convenience are explicitly for practical gain
- sham marriage
strongly negative; implies deception or illegality, especially for immigration fraud
- love match
a marriage based on romantic feelings rather than practical benefit
文法句型
a marriage of convenience
marriage of convenience + infinitive
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the fixed phrase 'a marriage of convenience.' Avoid confusing with 'arranged marriage,' where families choose partners but love may still be the goal — in a marriage of convenience, practical advantage is the primary motive.
常見錯誤
4. A close blend of two different elements — such as ideas, styles, flavours, or ma
結合
兩種不同事物巧妙融合
A close blend of two different elements — such as ideas, styles, flavours, or materials — that work together well.
The dish was a marriage of Eastern spices and Western cooking methods.
這道菜是東方香料與西方烹飪手法的結合。
marriage of [food element A] and [food element B]
The building's design is a marriage of old stonework and modern glass.
這棟建築的設計是古老石造工藝與現代玻璃的結合。
The dance troupe created a marriage of ballet and hip‑hop.
這個舞團創造了芭蕾與嘻哈的結合。
Her latest novel is a marriage of historical fact and imaginative storytelling.
她的最新小說是歷史事實與想像敘事的結合。
- division
the opposite of bringing elements together
- separation
keeping elements apart rather than combining them
文法句型
a marriage of [thing A] and [thing B]
用法筆記
This figurative sense is always singular and takes the fixed pattern 'a marriage of X and Y.' Unlike senses 1–3, it does not involve people or romantic relationships.