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嫡ちゃく妻さい

ちゃ

く

さ

い

Meanings

1

legal wife; legitimate wife

Refers to a man's officially recognized wife, as opposed to a concubine or mistress. The term is somewhat formal and may appear in historical or legal contexts.

彼かれは嫡ちゃく妻さいのほかに側そく室しつを持もっていた。
He had a concubine in addition to his legal wife.

Kanji

嫡legitimate wife, direct descent (non-bastard)
妻wife, spouse

Related words

正せい妻さい
Also means 'legal wife', but 正妻 is more common in modern Japanese. 嫡妻 is rarer and carries a stronger historical or legal nuance.
側そく室しつ
Concubine; contrasts with 嫡妻 as the non-primary wife.

Etymology

The kanji 嫡 means 'legitimate' or 'direct descent', and 妻 means 'wife'. The reading ちゃくさい is the on'yomi of the characters. The term is of Chinese origin and was used in historical Japanese legal and family systems.