faat3 cai1髮妻发妻
Jyutpingfaat3 cai1
Yalefaat chāi
Definition
One's first wife; the original wife.
writtenpeoplefamily
How it's used
Carries a formal and slightly literary tone, often evoking a sense of loyalty or historical weight. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe someone's current spouse, as it specifically highlights the status of being the original partner. You will most frequently encounter this term in period dramas, novels, or when discussing traditional family values.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has been married to his first wife for decades, and their relationship is still very good.
Do you know how he treated his first wife back then?
Related words
Common phrases
a wife who has shared one's poverty
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to refer to a wife in a modern, casual context, as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic. It is not a synonym for simply saying老婆.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
