婦

Core sense: A married woman or wife. The term implies a recognized station within the home and is associated with domesticity and household management.

Primarily used as a noun. In compounds (e.g., 婦道), it may shift from describing a person to denoting the expected behaviors, ethics, and functional roles of domestic management.

Contrast with 妻: While both can be translated as "wife," 妻 typically functions as a relational term (the spouse from the husband's perspective), whereas 婦 often refers to the social category or status of being a married woman (a matron).

Early texts: The nuance of "married" is dominant, referring specifically to women who have entered the domestic sphere via marriage.

Han period and later: The term broadens, appearing in compounds (e.g., 婦人) as a general designation for an adult female regardless of marital status.

Variants: Semantic variant U+5A8D; simplified variant U+5987.

The glyph contains the component 帚 ("broom"), reflecting its association with domesticity.

Rank and Status: When a text distinguishes between grades of wives or concubines, determine if 婦 is used as a general term or contrasted with specific titles (e.g., 妻 vs. 妾). While some commentaries suggest 婦 may refer to secondary wives in ritual contexts, this is not universal; verify against the hierarchy established in the passage.

Contextual Choice: When choosing between "wife," "married woman," or "matron," consider whether the text emphasizes a legal/marital bond (relational) or a social role/status (categorical).