Chinese phrases
How to say wife in Chinese
Wife in Chinese is 老婆 (lǎo po) in everyday speech. 妻子 (qī zi) is the neutral word for forms and news, and 我太太 (wǒ tài tai) is the polite way to say “my wife” to people you don’t know well.
老婆
wife
The second syllable, po, is light and short. The 老 is not about age: young couples say 老婆, and so do many couples who are only dating.
Ways to say wife
老婆
Everydaywife
The everyday word. Husbands use it to talk about their wife and to call her.
妻子
Writtenwife (neutral)
On forms, in news and in stories. In conversation it sounds formal.
我太太
Formalmy wife (polite)
With colleagues, clients or anyone you just met. After a surname, as in 王太太, 太太 means “Mrs”.
爱人
Everydayspouse
For a wife or a husband. Common with middle-aged and older people in mainland China. In Taiwan, 爱人 can mean a lover.
媳妇
Everydaywife (northern)
Warm and down to earth, common in northern China. Older people also use it for their son’s wife.
Someone else’s wife
你老婆
your wife
Between friends.
您太太
your wife (polite)
With someone older, a client, or anyone you don’t know well.
您夫人
your wife (very formal)
At business dinners and formal events. It shows respect.
嫂子
older brother’s wife; a friend’s wife
Friends, men most of all, often call a close friend’s wife 嫂子, “older brother’s wife”, as if the friend were family.
Common mistakes
Calling your own wife 夫人
Strictly, 夫人 is a respectful word for someone else’s wife: 您夫人. Some men say 我夫人 at formal events, but many people hear it as boastful. 我太太 is the safe choice.
Saying 我妻子 in every chat
我妻子 is correct, but in a relaxed conversation it sounds stiff. With friends, say 我老婆. With people you don’t know well, say 我太太.
Missing the second meaning of 媳妇
For many older people, 媳妇 is their son’s wife. 儿媳妇 makes it clear: “daughter-in-law”.
After work
下班一起吃饭吧？
Colleague: Dinner together after work?
今天不行，我老婆过生日。
Friend: Not today, it’s my wife’s birthday.
那替我祝她生日快乐！
Colleague: Then wish her a happy birthday from me!
好，谢谢！
Friend: Will do, thanks!
