前妻こなみ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

archaic

Archaic term for a man's first or legally recognized wife, as opposed to a concubine or later spouse. Not used in modern everyday speech; encountered mainly in historical or literary contexts.

古こ文もん書じょには、前妻こなみとの間あいだに生うまれた子こについての記き述じゅつがある。
In the old document, there is a description of a child born to his first wife.

Kanji

前in front, before
妻wife, spouse
嫡legitimate wife, direct descent (non-bastard)

Related words

先せん妻さい
Also means 'former wife' or 'first wife', but is more common in modern Japanese and can refer to a previous wife in the context of remarriage, without the archaic or legal nuance of 前妻.
本ほん妻さい
Means 'legal wife' or 'principal wife', often contrasted with a mistress or concubine. More common than 前妻 but still somewhat formal or literary.

Written forms

前妻こなみ
Standard kanji spelling for this archaic term.
嫡妻こなみ
Alternate kanji spelling; less common and may be unfamiliar to modern readers.

Etymology

The reading こなみ is an older native Japanese reading (kun'yomi) of the kanji 前 (before) and 妻 (wife). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used since classical times to denote a man's first or principal wife.