[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Society-and-Culture \ #Interpersonal-Relationships # 妻 qī wife; spouse ## Components [[十 shí]] [[十 (shí)]] [[彐 jì]] [[女 (nǚ)]] [[女 nǚ]] ## Meaning Today, the character "妻" mainly means "wife" or "spouse." It refers to the female partner in a marital relationship. ## History In the past, "妻" symbolized the act of forcibly taking a wife, but now it represents marriage based on capability and charm. It originally depicted a woman being seized by force, and in later versions, it included a hairpin and the character for "woman." But now it also signifies marrying off daughters. Today, "妻子" is less common, with "老婆" being more prevalent. The *Shuowen Jiezi* defines it as women in conjunction with their husbands. Its primary meaning remains the spouse of a man, as seen in ancient texts like the *Book of Songs* and the *Analects of Confucius*. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[妻 ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[妻 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[妻 sello.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[妻 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[妻 reg.svg]]