Addressing a Chinese Person 问称谓与称呼（wèn chēng wèi yǔ chēng hū）

对话：

麦克：丽丽，中文的“爱人”是什么意思？

Mài kè:Lì li, zhōng wén de "ài rén" shì shén me yì si?

Mike: What does "ai ren" mean?

丽丽：“爱人”是妻子或丈夫的意思。

Lì li: "Ài rén" shì qī zǐ huò zhàng fu de yì si.  

Lili: It means spouse.

麦克：明白了。我怎么称呼你丈夫？

Mài kè:Míng bai le. Wŏ zĕn me chēng hū nĭ zhàng fu?

Mike: I see. So, how should I address your husband?

丽丽：叫先生就可以。

Lì li: Jiào xiān sheng jiù kĕ yĭ.

Lili:You can say "xiān sheng".

麦克：人们称年轻夫妇为小俩口，是吗？  

Mai ke:Rén men chēng nián qīng fū fù wéi xiăo liăng kŏu, shì ma?

Mike: A young couple is referred to as "xiăo liăng kŏu", right?

丽丽：是的。老年夫妇为老俩口。

Li li: Shì de. Lăo nián fū fù wéi lăo liăng kŏu.  

Lili: Yes. And "lăo liăng kŏu" for a more senior or elderly couple.

麦克：对老年夫妇也称呼老伴儿，是吗？

Mài kè:Duì lăo nián fū fù yĕ chēng hū lăo bànr, shì ma?

Mike: Aren't elderly couples referred to as "lăo bànr"?

丽丽：是的。这是一种昵称。  

Li li: Shì de. Zhè shì yì zhŏng nì chēng.

Lili: Yes. But that is a more intimate form of address.

麦克：“同志”这个词还用吗？  

Mài kè:"Tóng zhì" zhè gè cí hái yòng ma?

Mike:Is the word "comrade" still used?

丽丽：用。不过“先生”和“女士”用得也很多。

Lì li: Yòng. Bú guò "xiān shēng" hé "nǚ shì" yòng de yĕ hĕn duō.

Lili: Yes, it is. But "Sir" and "Madam" are also used.

生词

1. 称呼 chēng hū：to address someone  

2. 爱人 ài rén：a term of endearment one uses to refer to his/her spouse  

3. 妻子 qī zǐ: wife  

4. 丈夫 zhàng fu：husband  

5. 先生 xiān sheng：Mister; Sir

6. 女士 nǚ shì：Miss; Madam  

7. 夫妇 fū fù：a married couple; husband and wife  

8. 年轻 nián qīng：young  

9. 老年 lăo nián：senior, elderly

10. 小俩口 xiăo liăng kŏu：a young couple  

11. 老俩口 lăo liăng kŏu：a senior/elderly couple  

12. 昵称 nì chēng：an intimate address, a pet name  

13.同志 tóng zhì：comrade