wife (dialect); respectful term for women (archaic)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
wife (dialectal)
dialectCommonly used in certain regional dialects, especially in northern China, as a colloquial term for one's wife.
Wǒ我
men们
niáng娘
zi子
zài在
jiā家
zuò做
fàn饭
ne呢
。
Our wife is cooking at home.
Nǐ你
niáng娘
zi子
jīn今
r儿
ge个
méi没
lái来
？
Didn't your wife come today?
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Tā他
niáng娘
zi子
shì是
gè个
rè热
xīn心
cháng肠
。
His wife is a warm-hearted person.
noun
respectful term for a young or middle-aged woman (archaic)
archaicOriginally a respectful address in early vernacular literature (e.g., Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasty fiction). Still used in period dramas or jokingly in modern contexts to mimic ancient speech.
Niáng娘
zi子
qǐng请
liú留
bù步
。
Madam, please wait.
Zhè这
wèi位
niáng娘
zi子
hǎo好
shēng生
miàn面
shàn善
。
This lady looks very familiar.
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Xiǎo小
èr二
，
gěi给
zhè这
wèi位
niáng娘
zi子
dào倒
chá茶
。
Waiter, pour tea for this lady.
Zhāng张
niáng娘
zi子
zuó昨
rì日
lái来
guo过
。
Madam Zhang came by yesterday.