<p>The simple answer is either word will work.</p>

<p>The nuance is little different though, as the word selection would show who has a "male" role or "female" role in the marriage. If this not clear, then the person who is more important (this may depend on context) would be assumed the "male" role, such as the 女总理 in Jodie's answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-19T12:48:57.770Z
So its the "marital role" as perceived by the speaker, that matters. Thanks.
Matthew Rudy 马泰
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-19T01:27:54.567Z
2013-07-19T01:27:54.567Z
fefe
<p>I have a Chinese magazine article about the prime minister of Iceland from about 3 years ago and the title is 冰岛女总理娶同性女友. Based on that, perhaps 娶 for anyone (male or female) marrying a woman and 嫁给 for anyone marrying a man. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-15T17:10:17.220Z
Good point. But such usage would indicate the "active" one and the "passive" one in a couple. For example, `冰岛女总理娶同性女友` suggests that `女总理` is the *Tomboy* role.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-17T03:28:10.293Z
I agree with Stan here on the role each partner plays having an effect on the word being used. I would probably add 'political/financial position' to this as well.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-15T16:57:33.037Z
2013-07-15T16:57:33.037Z
Jodie
<p>Most of time,in same-sex marriages ,there has an assertive "man"(which called "攻") and a easygoing  "women"（called “受”）.</p>

<p>So customary, we use "<strong>‘攻’</strong> 娶 <strong>‘受’</strong>" or “<strong>‘受’</strong> 嫁给 <strong>‘攻’</strong>”</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-28T00:48:06.897Z
2013-07-28T00:48:06.897Z
Lidong Guo
<p>In male-female marriage we use the two verbs;</p>

<ul>
<li>嫁給 (jiàgěi)</li>
<li>娶 (qǔ)</li>
</ul>

<p>But these are gender specific.</p>

<ul>
<li>a woman can 嫁給 a man</li>
<li>a man will 娶 a woman</li>
</ul>

<p>So how does this work in same-sex marriages?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-15T07:42:28.977Z
Same-sex marriages are not recognized in many countries. I suspect that there isn't any special Chinese term to cater for this. It is quite likely that the same marriage vows are used: the dominant half 娶; the other half 嫁.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-15T07:44:10.763Z
First of all, the same-sex marriage hasn't been legal yet in China. So I've never heard of whether there's any specific verb similar to `嫁/娶` for same-sex marriage. Maybe a general expression is enough: `Tom要和Jim结婚`. It will sound more natural than saying `Tom要嫁给Jim` or `Tom要娶Jim`.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-16T00:36:31.920Z
as I understand it there was a gay marriage in Taiwan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Taiwan
Matthew Rudy 马泰
<vocabulary>
Which marital verbs are used for same-sex marriages?
# Which marital verbs are used for same-sex marriages?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-14)

In male-female marriage we use the two verbs;

* 嫁給 (jiàgěi)
* 娶 (qǔ)

But these are gender specific.

* a woman can 嫁給 a man
* a man will 娶 a woman

So how does this work in same-sex marriages?

**Tags:** vocabulary

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Same-sex marriages are not recognized in many countries. I suspect that there isn't any special Chinese term to cater for this. It is quite likely that the same marriage vows are used: the dominant half 娶; the other half 嫁.  
> **username_2**: First of all, the same-sex marriage hasn't been legal yet in China. So I've never heard of whether there's any specific verb similar to `嫁/娶` for same-sex marriage. Maybe a general expression is enough: `Tom要和Jim结婚`. It will sound more natural than saying `Tom要嫁给Jim` or `Tom要娶Jim`.  
> **username_0**: as I understand it there was a gay marriage in Taiwan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Taiwan  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-07-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The simple answer is either word will work.

The nuance is little different though, as the word selection would show who has a "male" role or "female" role in the marriage. If this not clear, then the person who is more important (this may depend on context) would be assumed the "male" role, such as the 女总理 in username_4's answer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So its the "marital role" as perceived by the speaker, that matters. Thanks.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-07-15. Score: 5

I have a Chinese magazine article about the prime minister of Iceland from about 3 years ago and the title is 冰岛女总理娶同性女友. Based on that, perhaps 娶 for anyone (male or female) marrying a woman and 嫁给 for anyone marrying a man.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Good point. But such usage would indicate the "active" one and the "passive" one in a couple. For example, `冰岛女总理娶同性女友` suggests that `女总理` is the *Tomboy* role.  
> **username_5**: I agree with username_2 here on the role each partner plays having an effect on the word being used. I would probably add 'political/financial position' to this as well.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-07-28. Score: 2

Most of time,in same-sex marriages ,there has an assertive "man"(which called "攻") and a easygoing "women"（called “受”）.

So customary, we use "**‘攻’** 娶 **‘受’**" or “**‘受’** 嫁给 **‘攻’**”


---

