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Kotomora

妻

wife, spouse

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • サイ

Kun'yomi

  • つま

Nanori

  • ずま
  • め

Meaning

妻 centers on a married woman in relation to her partner: a wife or spouse.

Most common words using 妻

20 of 92
  • 妻つま
    N5

    wife

  • 稲妻いなずま
    N1

    lightning; flash of lightning; lightning bolt

  • 人妻ひとづま

    married woman

  • 夫妻ふさい
    N3

    husband and wife; married couple

  • 妻子さいし
    N1

    wife and children

  • 若妻わかづま

    young wife

  • 新妻にいづま

    new wife

  • 前妻こなみ

    first wife; legal wife

  • 前妻ぜんさい

    ex-wife; former wife; previous wife

  • 愛妻あいさい

    beloved wife

  • 一夫多妻いっぷたさい

    polygamy; polygyny

  • 後妻ごさい

    second wife

  • 正妻せいさい

    legal wife; lawful wife

  • 妻帯さいたい

    having a wife; marrying (a woman); marriage

  • 先妻せんさい

    former wife; late wife

  • 良妻りょうさい

    good wife

  • 良妻賢母りょうさいけんぼ

    good wife and wise mother

  • 切妻きりづま

    gable

  • 本妻ほんさい

    one's legal wife

  • 悪妻あくさい

    bad wife

Explore all words using 妻 →

Study

Etymology

妻 originally depicted a hand (represented by the upper part) seizing a woman (女), reflecting an ancient practice of marriage by capture. The modern form retains the woman radical at the bottom, while the upper part has been stylized.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom is 女 (woman). The upper part looks like a hand reaching down to take a bride. Picture a hand taking a woman as a wife.

Reading mnemonic

For サイ, imagine a wife sighing with contentment: sigh -> サイ, as she settles into married life.