About
The character '妃' is a phono-semantic compound formed from the semantic component '女,' meaning woman, and the phonetic component '己,' which historically indicated its pronunciation. In its earliest appearances, the term broadly referred to a spouse or partner, often of elevated status such as a princess or a nobleman's wife. Over time, its application narrowed significantly to designate specifically the consorts of emperors and kings, becoming a standard title for imperial concubines or secondary wives within the royal household. This semantic shift from a general concept of a mate to a precise indicator of rank within patriarchal and feudal systems demonstrates how the character's meaning was refined in relation to social and political hierarchies, while its structural composition has remained largely unchanged.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这位王妃非常美丽。
国王为他的爱妃建造了宫殿。
故事里有一位善良的皇妃。
她梦想成为舞台上的香妃。
这位贵妃深受皇帝的宠爱。
在历史上，那位妃子的命运很悲惨。
剧中，妃嫔们为了权力明争暗斗。
学者们正在考证这位侧妃的陵墓位置。