Meaning of 嫡母
嫡母 means father's principal wife (in the patriarchal clan system, as addressed by children of a concubine). Pronounced dí mǔ.
- father's principal wife (in the patriarchal clan system, as addressed by children of a concubine)
Definitions & Examples
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
shù庶
chū出
de的
zǐ子
nǚ女
bì必
xū须
zūn尊
jìng敬
dí嫡
mǔ母
。
In ancient times, children of concubines had to respect their father's principal wife.
《
Hóng红
Lóu楼
Mèng梦
》
zhōng中
，
Tàn探
Chūn春
chēng称
Wáng王
fū夫
rén人
wéi为
dí嫡
mǔ母
。
In *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Tanchun calls Lady Wang her father's principal wife.
Dí嫡
mǔ母
suī虽
fēi非
shēng生
mǔ母
，
dàn但
zài在
zōng宗
fǎ法
shàng上
dì地
wèi位
zūn尊
guì贵
。
Although the principal wife was not the birth mother, she held a position of high status under the patriarchal system.
Àn按
zhào照
gǔ古
lǐ礼
，
dí嫡
mǔ母
qù去
shì世
，
qiè妾
shēng生
zǐ子
nǚ女
yě也
yào要
wèi为
zhī之
shǒu守
xiào孝
sān三
nián年
。
According to ancient ritual, when the principal wife died, children of concubines also had to observe three years of mourning for her.