Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 女士 | nǚshì |
| 太太 | tàitai |
| 夫人 | fūrén |
The terms for "madam" are used to address women politely. 女士 is the standard, neutral and professional way to address a woman, while 太太 and 夫人 are more specific to marital status and formal social positions.
Which one should you use?
女士 is the most neutral and professional option, similar to 'Ms.' or 'Madam', and is the safest choice for general use. 太太 specifically implies that the woman is married and is equivalent to 'Mrs.' or 'Madame'. It can also be used to refer to someone's wife or a woman of high social status. 夫人 is a highly respectful term used for the wives of high-ranking officials or in very formal, ceremonial contexts, similar to 'Lady' or 'Madam'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
太太 is a formal term used to address married women particularly in Mainland China.
How do you pronounce it?
nǚshì
What mistakes should you avoid?
When in professional settings, avoid using 太太 unless you are certain the woman is married and the context is social. Instead, use 女士 as it is safer and more respectful for general professional use.
Did you know?
- The character 士 in 女士 was historically reserved for men of the scholar-official class, making the term a significant linguistic shift in gender roles.
- While 太太 is used for married women, it can also be used as a title for the female head of a household or a mistress in older social structures.
- While 太太 is common for 'Mrs.', it is also a literal way to say 'wife' in many contexts, making it much more intimate than the English 'Madam'.
Examples in context
- Zhe shi Wang Fu Ren. (这是王夫人。)This is Madam Wang.
- Qing Wen, Li Tai Tai zai ma? (请问，李太太在吗？)Excuse me, is Mrs. Li available?
- Qing Wen, Ayi zai ma? (请问，阿姨在吗？)Excuse me, is Auntie available?
- Qing Wen, Nin shi Dona Nu Shi ma? (请问，您是Dona女士吗？)Excuse me, are you Madam Dona?
- 这位女士很优雅。Zhè wèi nǚshì hěn yōuyǎ.This lady is very elegant.
- 请问，王女士现在在吗？Qǐngwèn, Wáng nǚshì xiànzài zài ma?Excuse me, is Ms. Wang here right now?
- 那位女士是我们的客户。Nà wèi nǚshì shì wǒmen de kèhù.That lady is our client.
Example conversation
A hotel receptionist welcomes a female guest.
- 浩然 Haoran女士，欢迎光临。Nǚshì, huānyíng guānglín.Welcome, madam.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢，我想办理入住。Xièxiè, wǒ xiǎng bànlǐ rùzhù.Thank you, I would like to check in.
- 浩然 Haoran请出示您的护照，女士。Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào, nǚshì.Please show your passport, madam.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，给你。Hǎo de, gěi nǐ.Okay, here it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “madam” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
