Definition
老处女 (lǎo chǔ nǚ) literally means 'old virgin' and refers to an older unmarried woman. The term is considered outdated, derogatory, and patronizing; in modern Chinese, neutral terms like '单身女性' (dānshēn nǚxìng, single woman) are preferred. It carries strong social stigma and should be used with caution or replaced by more respectful language.
n.
old maidspinster (often derogatory, outdated)
Examples
- ,老处女。Tā yí bèizi méi jiéhūn, biérén bèihòu jiào tā lǎo chǔ nǚ.She never married all her life; people call her an old maid behind her back.
- '老处女',。Xiànzài hěn shǎo yǒu rén yòng 'lǎo chǔ nǚ' zhège cí le, tīng qǐlái bú tài zūnjìng.Nowadays few people use the term 'old maid'; it sounds disrespectful.
- ,老处女。Zài gǔdài, nǚrén bù jiéhūn dào le sān shí suì jiù bèi chēngwéi lǎo chǔ nǚ.In ancient times, a woman who didn't marry by age thirty was called an old maid.
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