妻子

Chinese

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

妻子

1. wife

   他有一個妻子和兩個孩子要養活。 [MSC, trad.]
   他有一个妻子和两个孩子要养活。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tā yǒu yī ge qīzi hé liǎng ge háizi yào yǎnghuó.

   He has a wife and two young children to provide for.

   • 結髮為妻子，席不暖君床。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     结发为妻子，席不暖君床。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 759, Du Fu, 新婚別

     Jiéfà wéi qīzǐ, xí bù nuǎn jūn chuáng.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Synonyms

• 家室 (jiāshì)

Antonyms

• 丈夫 (zhàngfu, “husband”)

Derived terms

See also

• 配偶 (pèi'ǒu)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Noun

妻子

1. (Classical) wife and child(ren)

   • 父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     父母冻饿，兄弟妻子离散。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Fùmǔ dòng'è, xiōngdì qīzǐ lísàn.

     Their parents suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad.

   • 自云先世避秦時亂，率妻子邑人來此絕境，不復出焉。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     自云先世避秦时乱，率妻子邑人来此绝境，不复出焉。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 421, 陶淵明 Tao Yuanming, 桃花源記 (The Peach Blossom Spring)

     Zì yún xiānshì bì Qín shí luàn, lǜ qīzǐ yìrén lái cǐ juéjìng, bù fù chū yān.

     They told the fisherman that their ancestors had fled the chaos of the Qin Dynasty, and had led their wives and children and fellow villagers to this secluded place. No one has left ever since.

   • 耶孃妻子走相送，塵埃不見咸陽橋。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     耶娘妻子走相送，尘埃不见咸阳桥。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 752, 杜甫 (Du Fu), 兵車行

     Yēniáng qīzǐ zǒu xiàngsòng, chén'āi bùjiàn xiányángqiáo.

     Parents, wives and children run behind to send them off, the dust is kicked up and blocked the sight of the Xianyang Bridge.

Synonyms

Descendants

Japanese

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 妻子 (MC tshej tsiX).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) さ​いし (Atamadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

妻(さい)子(し) • (saishi) ^{←さいし (saisi)?}

1. wife and children

Synonyms

• 妻子(つまこ) (tsumako), 妻子(めこ) (meko), 妻孥(さいど) (saido)

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

References

Korean

Noun

妻子 • (cheoja) (hangeul 처자)

1. Hanja form^? of 처자 (“wife and children”).

Vietnamese

Noun

妻子

1. chữ Hán form of thê tử.