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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to a wife with 妻 (qī)

    Topic & Focus

    Structure

    前/他的 + 妻

    Explanation

    The noun 妻 (qī) means "wife" and is a classical or formal way to refer to a married woman in relation to her husband. In modern Chinese it most often appears in compound words like 妻子 (qīzi, wife) or 前妻 (qiánqī, ex-wife).

    Examples

    • 他和妻子结婚已经二十年了。

      Tā hé qīzi jiéhūn yǐjīng èrshí nián le.

      He and his wife have been married for twenty years.

    • 他的前妻现在住在上海。

      Tā de qián qī xiànzài zhù zài Shànghǎi.

      His ex-wife now lives in Shanghai.

    • 夫妻俩一起经营着一家小店。

      Fūqī liǎ yīqǐ jīngyíng zhe yī jiā xiǎo diàn.

      The couple runs a small shop together.

    Referring to a wife with 妻 (qī) | Chinese Grammar