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夫人 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夫人fūrénladyHSK 6, n, 6 strokes, rank #639, Hard
夫人fūrénmadamHSK 6, n, 6 strokes, rank #639, Hard
夫人fūrénMrs.HSK 6, n, 6 strokes, rank #639, Hard
fūrén(fu1ren2)fu ren T1
  1. 1madam
  2. 2Mrs.
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March 24, 2026

夫人fūrén(fu1ren2)

夫人 (fū rén) refers to a lady or madam, typically used to denote a married woman or a woman of high social standing. It carries a respectful tone and is often used in formal contexts, such as when addressing someone politely or referring to a spouse in a dignified way.

Strokes6Frequency#639DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the term 夫人 is often used in formal introductions or when addressing someone of higher status, reflecting the importance of respect and social hierarchy in interpersonal interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lady in a beautiful gown (夫) holding a fan (人) while gracefully greeting guests. The character 夫 can resemble a gentleman bowing, while 人 represents a person, reminding you that 夫人 is a respectful term for a woman.

Meanings of 夫人

fūrén(fu1ren2)
1lady
2madam
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About 夫人

夫人Simplified
6Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#639Frequency Rank
位Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 夫人

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Podcast: 夫人

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AI Study Notes for 夫人

Quick Contrast

"太太" (tàitài) is often used for "wife" or "madam" in a more casual context, while "夫人" (fūrén) carries a more formal and respectful connotation.

Usage Notes

When using 夫人, be mindful of the context; it is more formal than simply addressing someone as 女士 (nǚ shì) which means 'lady'. Avoid using it in casual conversations as it might come across as overly formal. Also, remember that 夫人 is specifically for married women.

HSK Study Tips

As a level 6 vocabulary word, 夫人 connects to other terms related to family and social roles, like 妻子 (qī zǐ, wife) and 丈夫 (zhàng fū, husband). Students should focus on mastering similar terms that reflect social hierarchy and respect.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夫人 with 女士 (nǚ shì) and use it in casual settings, which can feel out of place. For example, saying '你好,夫人' (Hello, lady) in a casual setting can be inappropriate; instead, use '你好,女士'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夫人

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Component Characters

夫fūhusband
HSK 74 strokes大
View full entry
人rénman
HSK 12 strokes人
View full entry

How to say lady in Chinese

“lady” in Chinese is夫人fūrén

夫人 (fū rén) refers to a lady or madam, typically used to denote a married woman or a woman of high social standing. It carries a respectful tone and is often used in formal contexts, such as when addressing someone politely or referring to a spouse in a dignified way.

When to use 夫人

When using 夫人, be mindful of the context; it is more formal than simply addressing someone as 女士 (nǚ shì) which means 'lady'. Avoid using it in casual conversations as it might come across as overly formal. Also, remember that 夫人 is specifically for married women.

夫人 or something close to it

"太太" (tàitài) is often used for "wife" or "madam" in a more casual context, while "夫人" (fūrén) carries a more formal and respectful connotation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夫人 with 女士 (nǚ shì) and use it in casual settings, which can feel out of place. For example, saying '你好,夫人' (Hello, lady) in a casual setting can be inappropriate; instead, use '你好,女士'.

Write 夫人

夫
人

Practice writing 夫人 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 夫人

No, 夫人 is specifically used for married women or women of high social standing. For general use, 女士 (nǚ shì) is more appropriate.

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