妾
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: concubine
💡 A woman (女) standing (立) as a secondary wife — concubine.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
In a bustling Beijing antique market, a young woman overhears an elderly vendor refer to a historical painting's female figure as '妾' (qiè). She learns this character means 'concubine,' historically a secondary wife in polygamous families. The radical 女 (woman) signals femininity, while the phonetic component 立 (lì, 'stand') suggests a woman in a subordinate position. Though rare today, 妾 appears in classical texts and legal terms for mistresses.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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