Asexual

Asexual people experience little or no sexual attraction. Three distinctions clear up most confusion. It is not celibacy — celibacy is choosing not to act on attraction, while asexuality means the attraction itself rarely shows up. It is not “frigidity” or a condition to be treated — asexuality is an orientation, not an illness (see Is asexuality frigidity?). And it does not rule out love — romantic and sexual attraction can run on separate tracks, so asexual people date, partner, and build families; some are also aromantic.

Asexuality is a spectrum (the “ace spectrum” or A-spec), which includes gray-asexual and demisexual experiences. The Chinese term is 无性恋 (wuxinglian) — 无 means “without.”

Register note: “asexual” and 无性恋 are the standard terms; “ace” is the affectionate community shorthand in both languages.

Common misuse: biology-class jokes about “asexual reproduction,” and the well-meaning-but-dismissive “you just haven’t met the right person yet” — which quietly tells someone they don’t know themselves. For the fuller picture, see Asexuality 101.