妾 qiè — concubine · English

妾

qiè

concubine

At a glance · 妾

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文从辛（刑刀）从女，象受刑的女奴，本义为女奴、妾。小篆作「妾」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为女奴隶，后指侧室。

Structure

会意字，从辛从女，表受刑之女（奴妾）。

At a glance

Pinyinqiè

Radical女

Strokes8

UnicodeU+59BE

Character type会意

Theme人伦

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English concubine A concubine or female slave in antiquity.

Français concubine Une concubine ou esclave femme antique.

Español concubina Una concubina o esclava mujer antigua.

العربية محظية محظية أو جارية في القديم.

Русский наложница Наложница или рабыня в древности.

Common words

妾qièconcubine
妾室qiè shìconcubine

◉ Listen