妃 (fēi) - Imperial consort & spouse (archaic)

妃Tone 1

fēi ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 女

恩丰

妃 · fēi

Imperial consort;

spouse (archaic);

concubine;

a title for women of high rank in ancient China.

Imperial consortspouse (archaic)concubine

Usage highlights

Imperial consortRoyal concubineCrown princess consortConsorts and concubinesImperial haremQueen and consorts

Synonyms

  • 嫔— imperial concubine (lower rank)
  • 妾— concubine (general term)
  • 贵妃— highest-ranking imperial consort

Antonyms

  • 后— empress (higher rank)
  • 君— monarch (male ruler)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She was an imperial consort (妃子) in the Tang dynasty.
  • The crown prince's spouse was called crown princess consort (太子妃).
  • This is a story about a royal concubine (王妃).
  • The emperor had many consorts (妃嫔).

Collocations

  • Imperial consort(妃子)
  • Royal concubine(王妃)
  • Crown princess consort(太子妃)
  • Consorts and concubines(妃嫔)
  • Imperial harem(妃嫔媵嫱)
  • Queen and consorts(后妃)

Idioms

  • The imperial consort's smile(妃子笑 - lychee variety)
  • Rival queens and consorts(后妃争宠)
  • The consort's favor rises and falls(妃宠兴衰)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, '妃' was a high-ranking title for the emperor's consorts, below the empress.
  • The term appears in historical records and literature describing palace life and political intrigues.
  • Modern usage sometimes appears in historical dramas and romanticized names.

FAQ