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Traditional Chinese Wedding Vows [ English & Chinese Translation]
In Chinese weddings, the traditional wedding vow is slightly different from the western practice. Instead of reading their promises to each other during the wedding ceremony, the vow will involves the Chinese deity, ancestorial halls and their parents.
However, time have change and now, Chinese wedding vow is much simplified and have many aspect which is very similar to the western culture.
Old Traditional Chinese Wedding Vows
In the past, during a Chinese Wedding the couple will kowtow three times while saying these words:
一拜天地, 二拜高堂, 夫妻对拜
The sequence and significance of each bow in the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony is as follow:
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 一拜天地 | yī bài tiān dì | First Bow to Heaven and Earth |
| 二拜高堂 | èr bài gāo táng | Second Bow to Parents |
| 夫妻对拜 | fū qī duì bài | Third Bow to Each Other (Couple) |
Old Chinese traditional “kneeling to heaven and earth ceremony” or 拜堂 (bài táng) is equivalent to wedding vows in the Western countries.
However, in the modern Chinese Wedding, you will seldom see this ceremony, but instead a more modern version of Chinese wedding vow.
Modernized Traditional Chinese Wedding Vows
Today, when you are attending a traditional Chinese weddings, there will only be “Bow to Parents” 拜高堂, where the couple will thank their parents and parent-in-law, assuring them that they will take care of each other, love each other and is now their son and daughter-in-law.
During the tea ceremony,
- As the a groom, you will assured your future wife’s parents that you will take care of their daughter.
- As the bride, you will assure that you will take care of your future husband’s needs and always be there to support him.
After the parents drink the tea, the couple should take the cup with both hands and hand it over to the ceremonial staff.
Then parents will give a return gift to the couple, which should be accepted with both hands as a gesture of thanks.
Marriage is not just an union between two souls but between two families as well.
I think reciting your wedding vow this way is both beautiful and romantic.
Modern Chinese Wedding Vows In Both English & Chinese
Chinese wedding have evolved and in the west, and many parts of Asia, the Chinese wedding vow become very similar to the western style of reciting their wedding vow.
The groom and bride can recite vows to each other that is prepared in advance following their culture, religion or beliefs. These vows are usually read in Mandarin Chinese or can be in phonetic text (Pinyin).
Here is how it sounds.
Vows from the groom to the bride
Minister or Priest:
| Chinese Text | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| (groom’s name), 你愿意娶 (bride’s name) 作为你的妻子吗，与你在神圣的婚约中共同生活？ 无论是疾病或健康，贫穷或富裕，美貌或失色，顺利或失意，你都愿意爱她，安慰她，尊敬她，保护她？并愿意在你们一生之中对她永远忠心不变？ | (groom’s name), nǐ yuàn yì qǔ (bride’s name) zuò wéi nǐ de qī zi ma, yǔ tā zài shén shèng de hūn yuē zhōng gòng tóng shēng huó? Wú lùn shì jí bìng huò jiàn kāng, pín qióng huò fù yù, měi mào huò shī sè, shùn lì huò shī yì, nǐ dōu yuàn yì ài tā, ān wèi tā, zūn jìng tā, bǎo hù tā? Bìng yuàn yì zài nǐ men yī shēng zhī zhōng duì tā yǒng yuǎn zhōng xīn bú biàn? | (groom’s name), you are willing to marry (bride’s name) as your wife, in sacred marriage together for life? Whether she has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love her, to comfort her, to respect her, and protect her? And willing to be forever loyal to her? |
Groom:
| Chinese Text | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 我愿意 | wǒ yuàn yì | I do |
Vows from the bride to the groom
Minister:
| Chinese Text | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| (bride’s name), 你愿意嫁 (groom’s name) 作为你的丈夫吗，与他在神圣的婚约中共同生活？ 无论是疾病或健康，贫穷或富裕，美貌或失色，顺利或失意，你都愿意爱他，安慰他，尊敬他，保护他？并愿意在你们一生之中对他永远忠心不变？ | (bride’s name), nǐ yuàn yì jià (groom’s name) zuò wéi nǐ de zhàng fu ma, yǔ tā zài shén shèng de hūn yuē zhōng gòng tóng shēng huó? Wú lùn shì jí bìng huò jiàn kāng, pín qióng huò fù yù, měi mào huò shī sè, shùn lì huò shī yì, nǐ dōu yuàn yì ài tā, ān wèi tā, zūn jìng tā, bǎo hù tā? Bìng yuàn yì zài nǐ men yī shēng zhī zhōng duì tā yǒng yuǎn zhōng xīn bú biàn? | (bride’s name), you are willing to marry (groom’s name) as your husband, in sacred marriage together for life? Whether he has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love him, to comfort him, to respect him, and protect him? And willing to be forever loyal to him? |
Bride:
| Chinese Text | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 我愿意 | wǒ yuàn yì | I do |
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