qiè

妾

Character · Noun · Pronoun

concubine; I (humble female self-address)

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

concubine; a secondary wife in traditional times

archaic

A historical and socially specific term referring to a woman taken by a man as a wife of lower status than the principal wife (妻).

Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
 ，
fù富
yǒu有
de的
rén人
jiā家
cháng常
yǒu有
qī妻
qiè妾
 。

In ancient times, wealthy families often had principal wives and concubines.

Tā她
zhǐ只
shì是
tā他
zhòng众
duō多
qiè妾
shì室
zhōng中
de的
yī一
wèi位
 。

She was just one of his many concubines.

Show 1 more example
Qī妻
qiè妾
zhì制
dù度
zǎo早
yǐ已
bèi被
fèi废
chú除
 。

The system of principal wives and concubines was abolished long ago.

2.

pronoun

I; me (used by a woman as a humble self-reference)

archaic

A historical humble form of the first-person pronoun used exclusively by women, especially in classical literature or formal contexts.

Qiè妾
yuàn愿
suí随
jūn君
zuǒ左
yòu右
 。

I (your humble servant) wish to follow you, my lord.

Qiè妾
shēn身
bù不
gǎn敢
 。

I dare not. (Said humbly by a woman).

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
shì是
qiè妾
de的
yī一
diǎn点
xīn心
yì意
 。

This is a token of my (humble) regard.