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太太 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
太太tàitaimarried womanHSK 5, n, 8 strokes, rank #714, Hard
太太tàitaiMrs.HSK 5, n, 8 strokes, rank #714, Hard
太太tàitaiMadamHSK 5, n, 8 strokes, rank #714, Hard
太太tàitaiwifeHSK 5, n, 8 strokes, rank #714, Hard
tàitai(tai4tai5)tai tai T4
  1. 1married woman
  2. 2Mrs.
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March 24, 2026

太太tàitai(tai4tai5)

太太 (tài tài) refers to a married woman and is commonly used to denote a wife, as well as to address women with respect, similar to 'Mrs.' in English. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, and it conveys a sense of respect and recognition of a woman's marital status.

Strokes8Frequency#714DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, addressing someone as 太太 reflects not only their marital status but also a societal respect for family roles. It is common to use this title in formal introductions or when discussing someone's spouse.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'tai tai' wearing a traditional Chinese dress, holding a tea set, indicating her role as a respectful and caring wife. The repetition of 'tai' can remind you of the word 'together,' signifying a marital bond.

Meanings of 太太

tàitai(tai4tai5)
1married woman
2Mrs.
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 太太

太太Simplified
8Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#714Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 太太

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Podcast: 太太

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AI Study Notes for 太太

Quick Contrast

太太 (tài tài) vs 妻子 (qīzi) — use 太太 for respectful address or when referring to a married woman in a social context, while 妻子 is more formal and directly translates to 'wife' in a familial sense.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 太太 with 小姐 (xiǎo jiě), which means 'Miss' and is used for unmarried women. In formal settings, using '太太' is respectful, while in casual contexts, it may sound overly formal. Common collocations include '李太太 (Lǐ tàitài)' for 'Mrs. Li.'

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 太太 connects with other family-related vocabulary like 妻子 (qīzi, wife) and 先生 (xiānsheng, husband). Focus on using it in context to describe relationships and practice with sentence structures involving family members.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 太太 with 小姐 when addressing women, which can lead to awkward situations. Always use 太太 for married women and 小姐 for unmarried ones to avoid miscommunication.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 太太

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Component Characters

太tàihighest
HSK 14 strokes大
View full entry
太tàihighest
HSK 14 strokes大
View full entry

How to say married woman in Chinese

“married woman” in Chinese is太太tàitai

太太 (tài tài) refers to a married woman and is commonly used to denote a wife, as well as to address women with respect, similar to 'Mrs.' in English. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, and it conveys a sense of respect and recognition of a woman's marital status.

When to use 太太

Be careful not to confuse 太太 with 小姐 (xiǎo jiě), which means 'Miss' and is used for unmarried women. In formal settings, using '太太' is respectful, while in casual contexts, it may sound overly formal. Common collocations include '李太太 (Lǐ tàitài)' for 'Mrs. Li.'

太太 or something close to it

太太 (tài tài) vs 妻子 (qīzi) — use 太太 for respectful address or when referring to a married woman in a social context, while 妻子 is more formal and directly translates to 'wife' in a familial sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 太太 with 小姐 when addressing women, which can lead to awkward situations. Always use 太太 for married women and 小姐 for unmarried ones to avoid miscommunication.

Write 太太

太
太

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Grammar Patterns of 太太

太太 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

若是有个____照顾着他,他的生活必定不会那么乱七八糟了。

If he had a wife looking after him, his life certainly wouldn't be such a mess.

Example Sentences for 太太 (1)

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1
白兰克太太需要十美元来付清帐目.

bái lán kè tài tài xū yào shí měi yuán lái fù qīng zhàng mù.

To settle up her bill, Mrs. Blank needed $

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Frequently Asked Questions about 太太

Yes, 太太 can refer to any married woman, but it's often used with the woman's surname for added respect, such as 李太太.

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