Readings: サイ (Onyomi), つま (Kunyomi)
Meaning: wife
The kanji 妻 depicts a woman (女) with a hairpin or ornamental comb in her hair, symbolizing a married woman or wife.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 妻 has 10 strokes. It starts with the top radical resembling a roof or a hairpin, followed by the “woman” radical below and to the left, and finally the strokes on the right side.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 女 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Joyo) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- サイ (Sai)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つま (tsuma)
Common Words Using 妻
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 夫妻 | ふさい | husband and wife |
| 愛妻 | あいさい | beloved wife |
| 賢妻 | けんさい | wise wife |
| 良妻 | りょうさい | good wife |
| 妻帯 | さいたい | marriage; having a wife |
| 妻帯者 | さいたいしゃ | married man |
| 内妻 | ないさい | common-law wife |
| 正妻 | せいさい | legal wife; legitimate wife |
| 継妻 | けいさい | stepmother; second wife (historical) |
| 前妻 | ぜんさい | former wife |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 妻 | つま | wife |
| 新妻 | にいづま | new wife; newlywed wife |
| 人妻 | ひとづま | another man’s wife |
| 先妻 | さきづま | deceased wife; former wife |
| 若妻 | わかづま | young wife |
| 独り妻 | ひとりづま | a wife living alone |
| 妻問い | つまどい | ancient custom of visiting one’s wife (archaic) |
| 妻手 | つまて | side (of a structure); edge |
| 妻戸 | つまど | side door (architecture) |
| 妻飾り | つまかざり | gable ornamentation (architecture) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼の妻はとても料理が上手です。
Kana: かれの つま は とても りょうり が じょうず です。
Romaji: Kare no tsuma wa totemo ryōri ga jōzu desu.
English: His wife is very good at cooking.
Japanese: 新婚の二人は幸せな新妻生活を送っています。
Kana: しんこん の ふたり は しあわせ な にいづま せいかつ を おくって います。
Romaji: Shinkon no futari wa shiawase na niizuma seikatsu o okutte imasu.
English: The newlywed couple is enjoying a happy life as a new wife.
Japanese: 友達の夫妻は旅行に行く予定です。
Kana: ともだち の ふさい は りょこう に いく よてい です。
Romaji: Tomodachi no fusai wa ryokō ni iku yotei desu.
English: My friend’s husband and wife (the couple) are planning to go on a trip.
Japanese: 彼は愛妻家で、いつも妻を大切にしています。
Kana: かれ は あいさいか で、 いつも つま を たいせつ に して います。
Romaji: Kare wa aisaika de, itsumo tsuma o taisetsu ni shite imasu.
English: He is a devoted husband and always cherishes his wife.
Japanese: 私の妻は医者です。
Kana: わたし の つま は いしゃ です。
Romaji: Watashi no tsuma wa isha desu.
English: My wife is a doctor.
Japanese: 彼女は理想的な賢妻です。
Kana: かのじょ は りそうてき な けんさい です。
Romaji: Kanojo wa risōteki na kensai desu.
English: She is an ideal wise wife.
Japanese: あの人妻はいつも笑顔が素敵だ。
Kana: あの ひとづま は いつも えがお が すてき だ。
Romaji: Ano hitozuma wa itsumo egao ga suteki da.
English: That woman (another man’s wife) always has a wonderful smile.
Japanese: 彼は妻と相談してから決めます。
Kana: かれ は つま と そうだん してから きめます。
Romaji: Kare wa tsuma to sōdan shite kara kimemasu.
English: He will decide after consulting with his wife.
Japanese: 彼の亡くなった先妻はとても優しい人でした。
Kana: かれ の なくなった さきづま は とても やさしい ひと でした。
Romaji: Kare no nakunatta sakizuma wa totemo yasashii hito deshita.
English: His deceased former wife was a very kind person.
Japanese: 良妻賢母を目指す女性は多い。
Kana: りょうさいけんぼ を めざす じょせい は おおい。
Romaji: Ryōsaikenbo o mezasu josei wa ōi.
English: Many women aim to be a good wife and wise mother.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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