bīhūn: 逼婚 - Forced Marriage, To Pressure into Marriage

• Keywords: bihun, 逼婚, forced marriage in China, pressure to get married, Chinese parents marriage pressure, matchmaking, arranged dates, sheng nu, leftover women, filial piety, Chinese New Year family pressure.
• Summary: `逼婚 (bīhūn)` is a powerful Chinese term describing the intense and relentless pressure, primarily from parents and relatives, on younger generations to get married. This goes far beyond gentle nagging and often involves emotional blackmail, constant arranged dates (`相亲`), and ultimatums, especially during Chinese New Year. Rooted in cultural values like filial piety (`孝顺`) and social “face” (`面子`), `逼婚` represents a significant source of conflict between traditional expectations and modern individualism in contemporary China, particularly for those labeled “leftover women” (`剩女`).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bīhūn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To force or pressure someone into marriage.
• In a Nutshell: `逼婚` is the act of compelling someone, usually a son or daughter, to marry against their immediate will or timeline. It's not a suggestion; it's a high-pressure campaign driven by parents' anxieties about social status, continuing the family line, and the belief that marriage is an essential, non-negotiable stage of life. The feeling for the person on the receiving end is one of stress, helplessness, and being cornered.

• 逼 (bī): This character means “to force,” “to compel,” or “to press.” Imagine being pushed into a corner with no way out. It carries a strong sense of coercion.
• 婚 (hūn): This character means “marriage” or “wedding.” It's composed of `女 (nǚ)`, meaning “woman,” and `昏 (hūn)`, which means “dusk” and provides the sound. Traditionally, weddings were held at dusk, so the character depicts a woman's marriage ceremony.
• When combined, `逼婚 (bīhūn)` literally and powerfully means “to force a marriage.”

`逼婚` is more than just a family disagreement; it's a major cultural phenomenon in modern China, born from the clash between tradition and modernity.

• The Role of Filial Piety (孝顺, xiàoshùn): Traditionally, one of the greatest duties of a child is to obey their parents and continue the family lineage. Not getting married is often seen as a profound act of unfilial behavior, causing parents deep distress and shame.
• “Face” (面子, miànzi): In a collectivist culture, an individual's actions reflect on the entire family. Having an unmarried adult child, especially a daughter over 27 (a `剩女`, or “leftover woman”), can cause parents to “lose face” among their friends, colleagues, and relatives. `逼婚` is often their desperate attempt to regain this social standing.
• Comparison to Western Culture: In Western cultures, parents might “nag” their kids about settling down. This is usually seen as annoying but is rarely a systematic, high-stakes campaign. `逼婚`, in contrast, can involve the entire extended family. It can include daily phone calls, setting up surprise blind dates (`相亲`), public shaming, and even threats to sever ties. The pressure is organized,