恋人 (liàn rén) means 'romantic partner' or 'sweetheart' — it refers to someone you are in a romantic relationship with, like a boyfriend or girlfriend. Unlike the English word 'lover', which can imply a sexual relationship outside of marriage, 恋人 is a general, polite term for a romantic partner, suitable for all ages and relationship stages. It is commonly used to describe people in a serious, but not necessarily married, relationship.