Meanings of 妾
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Podcast: 妾
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AI Study Notes for 妾
妾 is often used in historical or literary contexts rather than in modern everyday language. It may carry a negative connotation when referring to women, so it's essential to be aware of the context when using it. Avoid using it in formal or polite conversations.
Since 妾 is not included in the HSK levels, focus on understanding its historical significance and its usage in classical texts. Students should also learn related terms like 妻 (qī), meaning 'wife', to grasp the social dynamics of historical relationships.
Learners often confuse 妾 with similar terms for 'wife' or 'partner', mistakenly using it in modern contexts. For example, saying 妾 to mean 'my girlfriend' would be incorrect; the appropriate term would be 女朋友 (nǚ péngyǒu).
Pronunciation of 妾
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 妾
Depicts a woman (女) with a damaged reputation (辛 is a pictograph of a tool used to tattoo the face of criminals as punishment).
A woman 女 branded 辛 as a slave
Origin
What kind of character is 妾?
Decomposition of 妾
Parts
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How to say concubine in Chinese
“concubine” in Chinese is妾
The character 妾 (qiè) refers to a concubine, a woman who is in a recognized relationship with a man but is not his wife. The term has historical roots in Chinese society, where concubinage was a common practice, and it carries a nuance of subservience, especially when used by women to refer to themselves in a humble manner.
When to use 妾
妾 is often used in historical or literary contexts rather than in modern everyday language. It may carry a negative connotation when referring to women, so it's essential to be aware of the context when using it. Avoid using it in formal or polite conversations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 妾 with similar terms for 'wife' or 'partner', mistakenly using it in modern contexts. For example, saying 妾 to mean 'my girlfriend' would be incorrect; the appropriate term would be 女朋友 (nǚ péngyǒu).
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Word Family of 妾
Words with 妾
What does 妻妾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 妾
妾 is largely obsolete in contemporary language and is mostly found in historical texts or traditional literature.
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