Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 老婆 | lǎopo | colloquial |
| 妻子 | qīzi | |
| 太太 | tàitai | polite |
| 內人 / 内人 | nèirén | humble, literary |
| 愛人 / 爱人 | àirén | China |
These terms are used to refer to a female partner in a marriage.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term 老婆 literally translates to 'old woman' (老 lǎo 'old' + 婆 pó 'woman/old woman'), but it is used affectionately as 'wife' in colloquial speech.
Which one should you use?
妻子 is the most standard and formal way to say "wife" in Chinese, whereas 老婆 is the most common way to refer to one's wife in casual, everyday conversation. 太太 is a polite way to refer to someone else's wife, often used in social settings and literally means "Mrs." or "Madam". 爱人 is a common term used in mainland China to mean 'spouse' (either husband or wife), though it is less common among younger generations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or written contexts, use 妻子. In polite social settings, use 太太 or 夫人 (which means "Lady" or "Madam" and is used to refer to a formal or prestigious wife). If you want to refer to your own wife in a humble manner, the literary term 内人 can be used, though it is now rarely used in spoken language. For casual, everyday conversation, use the colloquial 老婆. You might also use the informal term 伴侣 to mean "wife" or "husband" in a committed relationship, or the affectionate nickname 宝贝 (meaning "treasure" or "darling").
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 太太 is the most commonly used formal term for wife. In Hokkien, 老婆 is widely used in informal contexts. In mainland China, 爱人 is a common term used to mean 'spouse'.
How do you pronounce it?
lǎopo
Did you know?
- While 爱人 is used for 'spouse' in mainland China, the same word in Japanese means 'lover' in a romantic or sexual sense.
- The term 内人 literally means 'inside person', reflecting an ancient social structure where the husband managed external affairs and the wife managed the home.
- Using 太太 to refer to your own wife in some traditional contexts can sound overly formal or distant, as it is primarily used for others' wives.
Examples in context
- 我妻子在家。My wife is at home.This sentence shows how to use 妻子 to state where a wife is located.Tatoeba #10913658 by xjjAstrus, translation #11987152 by timmartin
- 他老婆很有才。His wife is quite a talented woman.This sentence demonstrates the use of the colloquial 老婆.Tatoeba #1694979 by sadhen, translation #285632 by CK
- 我爱我的妻子。I love my wife.This sentence uses 妻子 to express affection for a wife.Tatoeba #4759974 by ryanwoo, translation #436791 by lukaszpp
- 155 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran is talking to Yuting about his weekend plans.
- 浩然 Haoran我老婆想去逛街。Wǒ lǎopó xiǎng qù guàngjiē.My wife wants to go shopping.
- 雨婷 Yuting你们打算去哪儿？Nǐmen dǎsuàn qù nǎ'er?Where do you plan to go?
- 浩然 Haoran还没决定，听老婆的。Hái méi juédìng, tīng lǎopó de.Haven't decided yet, I'll listen to my wife.
- 雨婷 Yuting你真是个好丈夫。Nǐ zhēnshì gè hǎo zhàngfū.You really are a good husband.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 愛人, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
