noun
Only when written 妻
Neutral noun for a wife, especially one's own wife or when speaking plainly. Restricted this sense to the kanji spelling 妻.
週末は妻と映画を見に行く。
I'm going to see a movie with my wife this weekend.
Usually written つま. Most often refers to the decorative or edible garnish served with sashimi, such as shredded daikon.
刺身には大根のつまが添えてあった。
The sashimi was served with a garnish of shredded daikon.
noun
accompaniment; side item; side remark
Usually written つま. Used for something secondary that accompanies the main thing, especially something eaten with alcohol; the "side remark" use is limited and less common than words such as 余談.
酒のつまに枝豆を頼んだ。
We ordered edamame as a snack with our drinks.
A polite and common way to refer to someone else's wife, and also used casually for one's own wife; 妻 is plainer and more neutral.
Refers to one's own wife, but can sound older or more traditional; 妻 is the more neutral modern term.
More common for a snack eaten with alcohol; つま is shorter and also has the specific sense of sashimi garnish.
The counterpart meaning "husband"; 妻 means "wife."
つま is a native Japanese word. 妻 is the standard kanji spelling for the spouse sense, while the garnish and accompaniment senses are usually written in kana; their exact historical relationship to the spouse sense is uncertain.