Definition
妻妾 refers to the wife (妻) and concubine(s) (妾) in traditional Chinese polygynous households, where only one woman was legally the wife and others were secondary partners with lower status. The term carries heavy historical and cultural weight — it appears in classical literature, legal codes, and family dramas. Modern standard Chinese uses 妻子 for 'wife' and rarely uses 妾 except in historical or legal contexts. You won't use this word in everyday conversation, but you need to recognize it in historical texts or period dramas.
n.
wife and concubine(s) (in traditional Chinese polygynous households)
Examples
- ，妻妾。Zài gǔdài, qī qiè de dìwèi chābié hěn dà.In ancient times, the status difference between wife and concubines was huge.
- 妻妾。Zhè bù xiǎoshuō jiǎng de shì qī qiè zhījiān de dòuzhēng.This novel is about the struggles among wives and concubines.
- 妻妾。Qīngdài fǎlǜ duì qī qiè de cáichǎn quán yǒu míngquè guīdìng.Qing dynasty law had clear provisions on the property rights of wives and concubines.
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