Definition
发妻 (fāqī) is a formal, literary term for 'first wife' — the woman a man first married, often used in historical or respectful contexts. It comes from the ancient custom of tying a knot with one's hair (结发) at marriage. Unlike the more neutral 第一个妻子, 发妻 carries a sense of lifelong bond and is typically used in writing or formal speech.
n.
(formal) first wifeone's original spouse
Examples
- 发妻。Tā yìshēng zhǐ qǔ le yí wèi fā.He only married one wife in his life — his first wife.
- 发妻。Zhè bù xiǎoshuō jiǎng de shì fā hé jìshì zhī jiān de gùshì.This novel tells the story between the first wife and the second wife.
- 发妻。Tā duì fā yìzhí xīn huái kuìjiù.He has always felt guilty toward his first wife.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.