principal wife; eldest legitimate son
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
principal wife; legal wife (as opposed to concubine)
Refers to the primary, legally wedded wife in traditional polygamous marriage systems, holding higher status than concubines.
Tā他
shì是
zhèng正
shì室
suǒ所
shēng生
。
He was born of the principal wife.
Gǔ古
dài代
nán男
rén人
kě可
yǐ以
qǔ娶
duō多
wèi位
qiè妾
shì室
，
dàn但
zhèng正
shì室
zhī只
yǒu有
yī一
wèi位
。
In ancient times, men could marry multiple concubines, but there was only one principal wife.
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Tā她
suī虽
rán然
shì是
zhèng正
shì室
，
què却
bù不
shòu受
chǒng宠
ài爱
。
Although she was the principal wife, she was not favored.
noun
eldest legitimate son (born of the principal wife)
literaryLiterary or archaic usage referring to the first-born son of the principal wife, who traditionally held primary inheritance rights under the patriarchal clan system.
Tā他
shì是
Wáng王
jiā家
de的
zhèng正
shì室
，
jiāng将
lái来
yào要
jì继
chéng承
jiā家
yè业
。
He is the eldest legitimate son of the Wang family and will inherit the family business in the future.
Gǔ古
dài代
zōng宗
fǎ法
zhì制
dù度
zhòng重
shì视
zhèng正
shì室
de的
dì地
wèi位
。
The ancient patriarchal clan system emphasized the status of the eldest legitimate son.