When talking about a married woman, you will often hear people use the word 太太 (tài tai). It can be used to refer to someone’s wife, as in “我太太” (wǒ tài tai, my wife), or as a title for a married woman, similar to how we use “Mrs.” in English. For example, if someone’s last name is Wang, you could call her 王太太 (Wáng tài tai, Mrs. Wang).
It’s a common and polite way to address or refer to married women in everyday conversation. Just remember, it specifically refers to a woman who is married.
How Formal Is It?
"李先生和李夫人 (Mr. Li and Mrs. Li)"
"我的妻子是老师 (My wife is a teacher)"
"我老婆很漂亮 (My wife is very beautiful)"
مستوى الصعوبة
short and common characters
simple strokes
two identical syllables
clear pronunciation
ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك
المتطلبات الأساسية
تعلّم لاحقاً
متقدم
قواعد يجب معرفتها
太太 (tàitai) can be used as a polite form of address for a married woman, similar to "Mrs." in English. It's often followed by the husband's surname or a title.
李太太 (Lǐ tàitai) - Mrs. Li
It can also mean "wife" when referring to one's own or someone else's wife.
我的太太 (wǒ de tàitai) - my wife
When addressing a woman directly, you can use 太太 (tàitai) without a surname, especially in more formal settings or if you don't know her name.
您好，太太 (Nín hǎo, tàitai) - Hello, Ma'am
Historically, 太太 (tàitai) could also refer to a wife of a high-ranking official, but in modern usage, it's more general.
This rule is about historical context, so no direct modern example is necessary.
Be aware that while 太太 (tàitai) is generally polite, sometimes 夫人 (fūrén) is used for a more formal or respectful address to a wife, particularly in specific contexts like referring to a dignitary's wife.
总统夫人 (zǒngtǒng fūrén) - First Lady (wife of the president)
أمثلة حسب المستوى
我太太是老师。
My wife is a teacher.
李太太很喜欢中国菜。
Mrs. Li really likes Chinese food.
这位太太，请问您有什么需要帮助的吗？
Madam, may I ask if there's anything I can help you with?
他向他的太太求婚了。
He proposed to his wife.
我们邀请了王先生和王太太来参加派对。
We invited Mr. and Mrs. Wang to the party.
太太对丈夫说：“我们今天晚上吃什么？”
The wife said to her husband, 'What are we eating tonight?'
我的邻居太太总是很友好。
My neighbor (Mrs.) is always very friendly.
这位太太的提议很有趣。
This lady's suggestion is very interesting.
كيفية الاستخدام
Use 太太 (tài tai) respectfully for married women, similar to 'Mrs.' in English. You can use it with a surname, e.g., 王太太 (Wáng tàitai) for 'Mrs. Wang'. It can also refer to one's own wife, but this is becoming less common among younger generations.
Many learners mistakenly use 太太 (tài tai) when referring to their own wife in a casual context, especially younger people. While not strictly incorrect, it can sound a bit formal or old-fashioned. For your own wife, 妻子 (qī zi) or a more informal term like 老婆 (lǎo pó) is often preferred. Also, don't use 太太 (tài tai) for unmarried women; use 小姐 (xiǎo jiě) or another appropriate title instead.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةThe most common way to say 'Mrs.' in Chinese is 太太 (tài tai).
太太 (tài tai) is the general term for 'Mrs.' or 'wife.' 夫人 (fū rén) is a more formal or respectful term, often used for wives of officials or respected figures, or in more formal written contexts. For everyday use, 太太 is perfectly fine.
Yes, absolutely! 太太 (tài tai) is very commonly used to mean 'wife.' For example, '这是我的太太' (Zhè shì wǒ de tàitai) means 'This is my wife.'
It can be used for both. You can refer to a married woman as 太太 (tài tai), like '王太太' (Wáng tàitai) for 'Mrs. Wang.' It's also used to specifically refer to 'my wife' or 'his wife.'
The pinyin is tài tai. Both characters are pronounced with the 4th (falling) tone. Try saying 'tie' as if you're lowering your voice quickly, twice in a row.
Yes, there are several! Besides 太太 (tài tai), common terms include 妻子 (qī zi), which is a more neutral and formal term for 'wife,' and 老婆 (lǎo pó), which is a more informal and affectionate term for 'wife.' 太太 sits comfortably in the middle, widely used.
Yes, you can use a surname followed by 太太 (tài tai) to address a married woman politely, for example, '李太太' (Lǐ tàitai) for 'Mrs. Li.'
No, 太太 (tài tai) is still widely used and understood. While younger generations might use 老婆 (lǎo pó) more informally, 太太 remains a standard and respectful term.
You could ask, '您是王太太吗?' (Nín shì Wáng tàitai ma?) which means 'Are you Mrs. Wang?' or literally 'You are Wang Mrs. (question particle)?' Here, 您 (nín) is the respectful form of 'you'.
Here's one: '她是一位很漂亮的太太。' (Tā shì yī wèi hěn piàoliang de tàitai.)
Hint: 她 (she) 是一位 (is a) 很 (very) 漂亮的 (beautiful) 太太 (Mrs./wife).
Meaning: 'She is a very beautiful lady/wife.'
اختبر نفسك 54 أسئلة
Write a short sentence introducing someone as 'Mrs. Wang'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这是王太太。(This is Mrs. Wang.)
You want to say 'My wife is Chinese.' Write this sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我太太是中国人。(My wife is Chinese.)
Write a simple sentence asking 'Is she Mrs. Li?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
她是李太太吗？(Is she Mrs. Li?)
谁喜欢喝茶？(Who likes to drink tea?)
Read this passage:
这是张太太。她是中国人。她喜欢喝茶。
谁喜欢喝茶？(Who likes to drink tea?)
The passage states '她喜欢喝茶' (She likes to drink tea), and the first sentence identifies '她' as '张太太' (Mrs. Zhang).
The passage states '她喜欢喝茶' (She likes to drink tea), and the first sentence identifies '她' as '张太太' (Mrs. Zhang).
李太太是哪里人？(Where is Mrs. Li from?)
Read this passage:
李先生和李太太是朋友。他们是美国人。
李太太是哪里人？(Where is Mrs. Li from?)
The passage says '他们是美国人' (They are American), and '他们' refers to both Mr. and Mrs. Li.
The passage says '他们是美国人' (They are American), and '他们' refers to both Mr. and Mrs. Li.
对方的太太怎么样？(How is the other person's wife?)
Read this passage:
你的太太好吗？她很好，谢谢。
对方的太太怎么样？(How is the other person's wife?)
The response '她很好，谢谢' directly answers the question about her well-being.
The response '她很好，谢谢' directly answers the question about her well-being.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 这位___是李老师的妻子。
The sentence means 'This ___ is Teacher Li's wife.' '太太' means 'Mrs.' or 'wife', which fits the context.
Which of the following refers to a married woman?
'太太' is used to address a married woman or refer to someone's wife. The other options refer to younger sister, younger brother, and student respectively.
If someone introduces '这是我的太太', what does he mean?
'太太' means 'wife', so '这是我的太太' means 'This is my wife.'
You can use '太太' to address an unmarried woman.
'太太' is specifically used for married women. For unmarried women, you would typically use '小姐 (xiǎo jiě)'.
In a formal setting, it is appropriate to introduce your spouse as '我的太太'.
'太太' is a polite and appropriate term to refer to one's wife, especially in more formal or respectful contexts.
The word '太太' can be used to mean 'Mrs.'.
'太太' is commonly used as the equivalent of 'Mrs.' in English.
Listen to the sentence about what Mrs. Li is doing.
Listen to identify who 'that Mrs.' is.
Listen to understand the relationship between 'my mom' and 'Mr. Wang'.
Read this aloud:
王太太喜欢喝茶。
Focus: tài
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
请问，您是李太太吗？
Focus: qǐng wèn
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
我的太太很喜欢学习中文。
Focus: xǐ huān
قلت:
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The correct order is 'My wife is a doctor.' (我的太太是医生。)
This is a polite greeting: 'Hello, Mrs. Zhang!' (张太太您好！)
The correct sentence asks: 'Is she his wife?' (她是他的太太吗？)
Listen to the sentence about what Mrs. Li is doing at the supermarket.
Listen to the sentence about your colleague's wife's profession.
Listen to the question asking if you are Mrs. Wang.
Read this aloud:
您好，陈太太。
Focus: Chen tàitai
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
我太太很喜欢旅行。
Focus: wǒ tàitai
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
那位太太是谁？
Focus: nà wèi tàitai
قلت:
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Imagine you are introducing your friend's wife at a social gathering. Write a short introduction. Include her name and one interesting fact about her.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
这是我的朋友李明的太太，张丽。她是一名优秀的画家。(Zhè shì wǒ de péngyǒu Lǐ Míng de tàitài, Zhāng Lì. Tā shì yī míng yōuxiù de huàjiā.) This is my friend Li Ming's wife, Zhang Li. She is an excellent painter.
You are writing a short message to a friend about your parents. How would you refer to your mother in a more formal way, acknowledging her role in the family?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我爸爸的太太，也就是我妈妈，最近身体不太舒服。(Wǒ bàba de tàitài, yě jiù shì wǒ māma, zuìjìn shēntǐ bù tài shūfú.) My father's wife, who is also my mother, has not been feeling well recently.
Describe a scenario where you would use '太太' to address an older married woman you respect, even if you don't know her name.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在超市里，我看到一位年长的女士掉了东西，我会走上前说：“太太，您的东西掉了。”(Zài chāoshì lǐ, wǒ kàn dào yī wèi niánzhǎng de nǚshì diàole dōngxi, wǒ huì zǒu shàng qián shuō: “Tàitài, nín de dōngxi diàole.”) In the supermarket, I saw an older woman drop something, I would go up and say: "Madam, you dropped something."
根据这段文字，王先生和他的太太的关系怎么样？(Gēnjù zhè duàn wénzì, Wáng xiānshēng hé tā de tàitài de guānxì zěnmeyàng?) According to this text, what is the relationship between Mr. Wang and his wife?
Read this passage:
王先生和他的太太非常恩爱。他们经常一起散步，一起做饭。他们的婚姻生活幸福美满。(Wáng xiānshēng hé tā de tàitài fēicháng ēn'ài. Tāmen jīngcháng yīqǐ sànbù, yīqǐ zuò fàn. Tāmen de hūnyīn shēnghuó xìngfú měimǎn.) Mr. Wang and his wife are very loving. They often take walks together and cook together. Their married life is happy and fulfilling.
根据这段文字，王先生和他的太太的关系怎么样？(Gēnjù zhè duàn wénzì, Wáng xiānshēng hé tā de tàitài de guānxì zěnmeyàng?) According to this text, what is the relationship between Mr. Wang and his wife?
文章中明确提到“王先生和他的太太非常恩爱”。(Wénzhāng zhōng míngquè tí dào “Wáng xiānshēng hé tā de tàitài fēicháng ēn'ài.”) The text explicitly states that "Mr. Wang and his wife are very loving."
文章中明确提到“王先生和他的太太非常恩爱”。(Wénzhāng zhōng míngquè tí dào “Wáng xiānshēng hé tā de tàitài fēicháng ēn'ài.”) The text explicitly states that "Mr. Wang and his wife are very loving."
为什么大家称呼李阿姨为“李太太”？(Wèishéme dàjiā chēnghu Lǐ āyí wèi “Lǐ tàitài”?) Why does everyone call Auntie Li "Mrs. Li"?
Read this passage:
李阿姨是这个社区的热心人，大家都叫她李太太。她常常帮助邻居，很受大家欢迎。(Lǐ āyí shì zhège shèqū de rèxīnrén, dàjiā dōu jiào tā Lǐ tàitài. Tā chángcháng bāngzhù línjū, hěn shòu dàjiā huānyíng.) Auntie Li is a warm-hearted person in this community, everyone calls her Mrs. Li. She often helps her neighbors and is very popular.
为什么大家称呼李阿姨为“李太太”？(Wèishéme dàjiā chēnghu Lǐ āyí wèi “Lǐ tàitài”?) Why does everyone call Auntie Li "Mrs. Li"?
“太太”在这里是对已婚女性的尊称，结合文章内容，李阿姨热心助人，所以很受尊重。(“Tàitài” zài zhèlǐ shì duì yǐhūn nǚxìng de zūnchēng, jiéhé wénzhāng nèiróng, Lǐ āyí rèxīnrén zhùrén, suǒyǐ hěn shòu zūnzhòng.) "太太" here is an honorific for a married woman, and combined with the content of the article, Auntie Li is warm-hearted and helpful, so she is highly respected.
“太太”在这里是对已婚女性的尊称，结合文章内容，李阿姨热心助人，所以很受尊重。(“Tàitài” zài zhèlǐ shì duì yǐhūn nǚxìng de zūnchēng, jiéhé wénzhāng nèiróng, Lǐ āyí rèxīnrén zhùrén, suǒyǐ hěn shòu zūnzhòng.) "太太" here is an honorific for a married woman, and combined with the content of the article, Auntie Li is warm-hearted and helpful, so she is highly respected.
小明的问题说明他可能不理解什么？(Xiǎo Míng de wèntí shuōmíng tā kěnéng bù lǐjiě shénme?) What does Xiao Ming's question suggest he might not understand?
Read this passage:
小明问他妈妈：“爸爸的太太是谁？” 妈妈笑着说：“傻孩子，我就是爸爸的太太啊！”(Xiǎo Míng wèn tā māma: “Bàba de tàitài shì shéi?” Māma xiàozhe shuō: “Shǎ háizi, wǒ jiùshì bàba de tàitài a!”) Xiao Ming asked his mother: "Who is Dad's wife?" Mom smiled and said: "Silly child, I am Dad's wife!"
小明的问题说明他可能不理解什么？(Xiǎo Míng de wèntí shuōmíng tā kěnéng bù lǐjiě shénme?) What does Xiao Ming's question suggest he might not understand?
小明问爸爸的太太是谁，而他妈妈就是爸爸的太太，这说明他没有完全理解这两个称谓之间的关联。(Xiǎo Míng wèn bàba de tàitài shì shéi, ér tā māma jiùshì bàba de tàitài, zhè shuōmíng tā méiyǒu wánquán lǐjiě zhè liǎng ge chēngwèi zhī jiān de guānlián.) Xiao Ming asked who Dad's wife was, and his mother is Dad's wife, which indicates he doesn't fully understand the connection between these two titles.
小明问爸爸的太太是谁，而他妈妈就是爸爸的太太，这说明他没有完全理解这两个称谓之间的关联。(Xiǎo Míng wèn bàba de tàitài shì shéi, ér tā māma jiùshì bàba de tàitài, zhè shuōmíng tā méiyǒu wánquán lǐjiě zhè liǎng ge chēngwèi zhī jiān de guānlián.) Xiao Ming asked who Dad's wife was, and his mother is Dad's wife, which indicates he doesn't fully understand the connection between these two titles.
她是我经理的___，一位非常优雅的女士。
经理的妻子通常被称为'太太'，表示已婚女性的敬称。
虽然她已经不再年轻，但依然喜欢被孩子们亲切地称呼为'___'，这让她感到很幸福。
在某些语境下，特别是受到尊敬的年长女性，即使不是自己的妻子，也可以被亲切地称呼为'太太'。
他每次出差回来，都会给他的___带回一些特别的礼物。
结合语境，出差回来给'太太'带礼物是常见的夫妻间的行为。
在现代汉语中，'太太'一词只能用来指代已婚的年长女性。
虽然常用于已婚女性，但并非严格限制于年长女性，也可以指年轻的已婚女性，或者作为对有地位的女性的尊称。
称呼某人为'太太'时，通常表示说话者对其有一定的尊敬。
'太太'带有尊敬的意味，是对已婚女性或有一定社会地位的女性的礼貌称呼。
在正式场合，用'太太'来称呼已婚女性是比'女士'更普遍和得体的选择。
在现代正式场合，'女士'是更通用和得体的称呼。'太太'有时带有一定的旧式或家庭色彩。
她不仅是他的贤内助，更是一位在事业上独当一面的女强人，真是新时代的好___。
在现代汉语中，'太太'可以指已婚女性，此处用以强调她在家庭和事业上的双重角色。
面对复杂的国际局势，这位资深外交官的___在关键时刻展现出非凡的智慧与沉着。
在某些正式或半正式语境中，'太太'也可以指代重要人物的妻子，强调其身份和地位。
她凭借独到的商业眼光和雷厉风行的作风，从白手起家到执掌跨国集团，被业界誉为商业界的铁血___。
此处'太太'用于引申义，形容女性在特定领域取得卓越成就，带有褒义。
在那个动荡的年代，许多革命先烈的___们默默承受着巨大的压力，为革命事业做出了牺牲。
'太太'在这里指革命者的配偶，强调她们在特殊历史背景下的身份和贡献。
由于工作繁忙，他常常忽略了对家庭的照顾，幸好他的___总是默默支持他，打理好一切。
'太太'在此指丈夫的妻子，强调她在家庭中的付出和支持。
她虽然身居高位，但待人接物却十分亲切，没有一点架子，深得周围人的尊敬，真是一位有涵养的___。
'太太'在这里用于形容有社会地位且有修养的已婚女性，体现尊敬。
My wife likes to drink tea.
Mrs. Li is not home today.
He proposed to his wife.
Read this aloud:
你好，陈太太。
Focus: 太太
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
我太太是医生。
Focus: 太太
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
请问您是王太太吗？
Focus: 太太
قلت:
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/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
مثال
王太太在家吗？
