virgin、maiden与single这些名词均含“未婚者、孤身一人”之意。
virgin : 通常指未婚者,贞洁未被玷污的人,或指婚烟关系尚未完成者。
- She remained a virgin until she was over thirty.
她三十多岁了还是处女之身。 - Do you think he's still a virgin?
你觉得他还是童男吗?
maiden与virgin含义相近,但更着重年轻与未婚,或未曾发生过任何两性关系。
- In the story, the prince woos and wins the fair maiden.
在故事里,王子向那位美丽的姑娘求婚并赢得了她的芳心。
single : 指尚未结婚的人,但更多指终生不结婚的人。
- He's been single for so long now, I don't think he'll ever marry.
他这么长时间一直单身,我认为他永远不会结婚了。