HSK · Level 31
135 words
Chinese word
太太
Pronunciation
Pinyintài tài
Meaning
- nounwife
Example
这是我的太太。zhè shì wǒ de tài tài
This is my wife.
More examples
我的太太在家做饭。wǒ de tài tài zài jiā zuò fàn
My wife cooks at home.
Core concept
A polite relationship label for a married woman, used either as a spouse term or as a social title.
Common phrases
我的太太wǒ de tài tài
my wife
他的太太tā de tài tài
his wife
Similar words
老婆lǎo pó: A warm, casual term for one's wife.
夫人fū rén: A respectful formal term for someone else's wife.
Definition in Chinese
口语中常用来称呼或指代有配偶的女性，可指自己或别人的妻子。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng lái chēng hū huò zhǐ dài yǒu pèi ǒu de nǚ xìng kě zhǐ zì jǐ huò bié rén de qī zǐ
Word origin
The repeated form 太太 (tàitài, "wife; Mrs.") became a polite title for a married woman rather than a literal description of size, and it later gained its everyday spouse-related use.
Usage tips
- In English, Mrs. usually needs a surname or another name after it, while this word can stand on its own for a spouse; that difference helps explain why the example is a complete natural identification.