What is the difference between 太太 and 夫人? My book (外国人学汉语) translates it as the same word. “Woman (married)” and it says they can both be a suffix as well as a noun.
Question: Is there really no difference between the two?
Chinese Language Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the finer points of the Chinese language. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityWhat is the difference between 太太 and 夫人? My book (外国人学汉语) translates it as the same word. “Woman (married)” and it says they can both be a suffix as well as a noun.
Question: Is there really no difference between the two?
In modern Chinese:
太太 is a common title for "Mrs." or a noun for "married woman" (in general)
Mrs. : a title used before a surname or full name to address or refer to a married woman, or a woman who has been married, without a higher or honorific or professional title.
夫人 is a more formal honorific or title for "Madam" or a noun for "married woman" (of high status)"
Madam :(often initial capital letter) a polite term of address to a woman, originally used only to a woman of rank or authority:
In short, 太太 is a general title for married women; 夫人 is a more formal/honorable title for married women;
女仕 is another honorific for women. A formal/ polite term for addressing to adult woman (single or married)
The difference between 太太 and 夫人 is somewhat similar to San (さん) and Sama (様) in Japanese