妾
concubine
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- めかけ
- そばめ
- わらわ
Meaning
妾 centers on a woman in a subordinate marital role: a concubine. The meaning is specific to this historical social position.
Most common words using 妾
- 妾めかけ
mistress; kept woman; concubine
- 愛妾あいしょう
beloved concubine; favourite concubine (e.g. of the shogun)
- 一盗二婢三妾四妓五妻いっとうにひさんしょうしぎごさい
(the most thrilling relationships for a man are) another man's wife, a maidservant, a mistress, a prostitute, and finally his own wife
- 侍妾じしょう
concubine; mistress
- 外妾がいしょう
foreigner's mistress
- 妻妾さいしょう
one's wife and mistress(es)
- 妾しょう
mistress; kept woman; concubine
- 妾わらわ
I; me
- 妾出しょうしゅつ
illegitimate (e.g. born to a mistress)
- 妾奉公めかけぼうこう
serving as a concubine
- 妾宅しょうたく
house in which a mistress is kept
- 妾腹しょうふく
illegitimate (e.g. born to a mistress)
- 嬖妾へいしょう
beloved concubine; favorite mistress
- 洋妾ようしょう
Westerner's mistress
- 男妾だんしょう
male paramour
- 蓄妾ちくしょう
keeping a mistress (concubine)
Study
Etymology
妾 combines 立 (stand) and 女 (woman), historically suggesting a woman who stands in service or a subordinate position. The exact origin is not fully certain, but the component combination fits the concubine meaning.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 standing 立 in a secondary role: 妾 is a concubine, a woman who stands beside the main wife.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a concubine putting on a show to gain favor: show -> ショウ, and she stands 立 as a woman 女 performing.