legitimate (born of the wife); orthodox birth
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to be born of the official wife (as opposed to a concubine)
archaicIn traditional Chinese kinship systems, children born to the official wife (嫡妻) held higher social status and inheritance rights than those born to concubines (庶出). This distinction was particularly important in imperial, aristocratic, and wealthy merchant families under the zongfa (宗法) clan system.
Tā他
shì是
dí嫡
chū出
de的
zhǎng长
zǐ子
，
yōng拥
yǒu有
yōu优
xiān先
jì继
chéng承
quán权
。
As the legitimate eldest son born of the wife, he held priority inheritance rights.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
shè社
huì会
，
dí嫡
chū出
hé和
shù庶
chū出
de的
zǐ子
nǚ女
dì地
wèi位
chā差
bié别
hěn很
dà大
。
In ancient society, there was a vast difference in status between children born of the wife and those born of concubines.
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Zhè这
wèi位
huáng皇
hòu后
suǒ所
shēng生
de的
dí嫡
chū出
gōng公
zhǔ主
bèi备
shòu受
chǒng宠
ài爱
。
The legitimate princess born to this empress was deeply favored.
Suī虽
rán然
tā他
shì是
shù庶
chū出
，
dàn但
tā他
de的
cái才
huá华
chāo超
guò过
le了
dí嫡
chū出
de的
xiōng兄
dì弟
men们
。
Although he was born of a concubine, his talents surpassed those of his legitimate brothers.