Definitions

fēi imperial concubine

Etymology

Depicts a woman () and a man () together.

About

The character 妃 is a phono-semantic compound. The left side contains the female radical 女, placing its meaning within the domain of women or female social roles. The right component 巴 provides the phonetic value. Originally, 妃 was a general term for a spouse, specifically the principal wife of a ruler or high-ranking nobleman. As the imperial hierarchy grew more elaborate, the meaning narrowed to a formal title for imperial consorts or the official wives of princes, losing its common application to ordinary spouses.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这位王非常美丽。

Zhè wèi wángfēi fēicháng měilì.

This princess is very beautiful.

国王为他的爱建造了宫殿。

Guówèi wèi tā de ài fēi jiànzàole gōngdiàn.

The king built a palace for his beloved consort.

故事里有一位善良的皇

Gùshì li yǒu yī wèi shànliáng de huángfēi.

There is a kind imperial consort in the story.

她梦想成为舞台上的香

Tā mèngxiǎng chéngwéi wǔtái shàng de Xiāng fēi.

She dreams of becoming the Fragrant Concubine on stage.

这位贵深受皇帝的宠爱。

Zhè wèi guìfēi shēn shòu huángdì de chǒng'ài.

This noble consort was deeply favored by the emperor.

在历史上,那位子的命运很悲惨。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, nà wèi fēizi de mìngyùn hěn bēicǎn.

In history, that consort's fate was very tragic.

剧中,嫔们为了权力明争暗斗。

Jù zhōng, fēipínmen wèile quánlì míngzhēng-àndòu.

In the drama, the imperial concubines scheme against each other for power.

学者们正在考证这位侧的陵墓位置。

Xuézhěmen zhèngzài kǎozhèng zhè wèi cè fēi de língmù wèizhì.

Scholars are researching the location of this secondary consort's tomb.