Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Married (of a woman): The state of a woman who has a husband; being in a marital union. It specifically indicates a woman's marital status.
   • To have a husband: The condition of being a wife.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Chị ấy có chồng rồi. (She is married already.)
  • Cô ấy chưa có chồng. (She is not married yet. / She does not have a husband.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is used almost exclusively to describe a woman's marital status. The equivalent for a man is "có vợ".
• It can be used in a broader sense to imply settled domestic life or responsibilities associated with marriage.
  • Một người phụ nữ có chồng có nhiều trách nhiệm hơn. (A married woman has more responsibilities.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lấy chồng (verb phrase): To get married (from a woman's perspective). This refers to the action of marrying a husband.
  • Cô ấy sẽ lấy chồng vào tháng tới. (She will get married next month.)
• Có gia đình (adjective phrase): To have a family; to be married (gender-neutral but often implies having a spouse and possibly children).
• Đã kết hôn (verb phrase, past participle used as adjective): To be married (formal, gender-neutral).

Synonyms

• Đã lập gia đình: To have started a family; to be married.
• Thành hôn: To be wedded (formal, literary).

Related Phrases

• Có chồng như có cái giả vào chân: (Idiom) Literally "Having a husband is like having a shackle on the leg." An old-fashioned saying implying marriage can be restrictive for a woman.
• Có chồng con: To have a husband and children; describes a woman with a family.

Notes on Usage

• "Có chồng" is a common, everyday phrase. It is more colloquial than the formal "đã kết hôn".
• The question "Đã có chồng chưa?" ("Are you married yet?") is a direct, common, but sometimes considered personal question about a woman's marital status.
• In modern usage, while still prevalent, the phrase's exclusive application to women reflects traditional social structures. The neutral "đã kết hôn" is increasingly used in formal contexts.

1. Married