yêu đương

Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To be in love / to love romantically: The primary meaning of "yêu đương" refers to the act of having romantic feelings for someone or being involved in a romantic relationship. It implies a mutual, affectionate bond between partners.
    • To court / to woo (archaic or literary): In some contexts, it can describe the actions and emotions involved in the process of courting or pursuing a romantic interest.

  2. Noun:

    • Romance / love affair: When used as a noun, "yêu đương" refers to the state or experience of being in love, or to a specific romantic relationship.
Usage Examples

  • Verb:

    • Hai người họ đang yêu đương. (The two of them are in love.)
    • Thời trẻ, ông ấy cũng đã từng yêu đương say đắm. (In his youth, he also once loved passionately.)

  • Noun:

    • Chuyện yêu đương của họ rất phức tạp. (Their love affair is very complicated.)
    • Cô ấy không muốn vướng vào những rắc rối của yêu đương. (She doesn't want to get entangled in the troubles of romance.)
Advanced Usage
  • The word often carries a connotation of deep, emotional involvement and is typically used for serious romantic relationships, not casual infatuation.
  • It can be used in a slightly poetic or formal register compared to the simpler verb "yêu."
Variants and Related Words

  • Yêu (v): to love. This is the root verb and is more general, covering romantic love, familial love, and love for things.

    • Tôi yêu gia đình tôi. (I love my family.)

  • Tình yêu (n): love (the noun, the feeling or concept).

    • Tình yêu là điều tuyệt vời. (Love is a wonderful thing.)

  • Ái tình (n): a more literary synonym for romantic love or a love affair.

    • Một mối ái tình lãng mạn. (A romantic love affair.)
Synonyms
  • To be in love: The most direct synonym for the verb form.
  • Romance: A synonym for the noun form, referring to the feeling or the relationship.
  • Courtship: A synonym for the older, more formal sense of the verb.
Related Idioms and Phrases

  • Yêu đương thắm thiết: To love each other deeply and devotedly.

    • Họ sống với nhau trong tình yêu đương thắm thiết. (They live together in deep, devoted love.)

  • Chuyện yêu đương: Love matters / affairs of the heart.

    • Đừng để chuyện yêu đương ảnh hưởng đến công việc. (Don't let love matters affect your work.)