====== yuánpèi: 原配 - First Wife, Original Spouse ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** yuanpei, 原配, first wife in Chinese, original spouse, Chinese marriage, xiaosan, 正室, 发妻, legal wife, primary wife, infidelity in China, Chinese cultural terms
  * **Summary:** In Chinese, **原配 (yuánpèi)** means the first and original spouse, most often referring to the legal wife. This term goes beyond a simple chronological description; it is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and carries strong connotations of legitimacy, moral standing, and history within a marriage. It is most frequently used in the context of marital infidelity, where the **原配** is seen as the wronged party in contrast to a third party, or **小三 (xiǎo sān)**. Understanding **原配** is key to grasping nuances in Chinese social dramas, news, and discussions about relationships.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yuán pèi
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** N/A
  * **Concise Definition:** The first and legally married spouse, especially when contrasted with a later partner or in the context of infidelity.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of "原配" not just as "first wife," but as "the *original* and *rightful* spouse." The term is a powerful social descriptor that establishes a person's primary and legitimate role in a marriage. It’s most often invoked when a marriage is threatened by an affair, automatically casting the `原配` as the sympathetic figure with the moral high ground.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **原 (yuán):** This character means "original," "primary," "source," or "raw." It's the same character in `原来 (yuánlái)`, meaning "originally," and `原因 (yuányīn)`, meaning "reason" or "cause."
  * **配 (pèi):** This character means "to match," "to pair," or "to be a spouse." It's found in words like `配偶 (pèi'ǒu)`, the formal term for "spouse," and `搭配 (dāpèi)`, meaning "to pair up" or "to match" (like clothes).
  * Together, **原配 (yuánpèi)** literally translates to "original match" or "primary spouse," clearly conveying the concept of being the first and legitimate partner in a marriage.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * Historically, in pre-modern China where polygamy (specifically concubinage) was practiced by the wealthy, the **原配** (or the more formal `正室 zhèngshì`) was the principal wife. She held the highest status among all the partners, managed the household, and her children were the primary heirs. Concubines (`妾 qiè`) had a much lower legal and social standing.
  * In modern, monogamous China, the term has evolved but retained its sense of primacy and legitimacy. Its most common use today is in the context of extramarital affairs. When a man cheats, his wife is referred to as the **原配** to emphasize her legal and moral status against the "third person," the **小三 (xiǎo sān)**. The word immediately frames the conflict as a story of a rightful wife defending her family against an intruder.
  * **Comparison to Western Culture:** The English term "first wife" is a neutral, chronological descriptor, usually referring to an ex-wife after a divorce ("He is with his second wife now; his first wife lives in California."). In contrast, **原配** is emotionally and morally charged. It's used to describe the *current* wife whose position is threatened, not typically a divorced one (for whom `前妻 qiánqī` or "ex-wife" is used). Using **原配** implies a narrative of loyalty, shared history, and often, betrayal.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Media and Social Gossip:** The term **原配** is extremely common in TV dramas (especially family dramas), celebrity news, and social media discussions about relationships and infidelity. Headlines often read like "原配当街怒打小三" ("Original Wife Angrily Hits the Mistress on the Street").
  * **Connotation:** The term is almost never neutral. It carries a heavy connotation of sympathy for the wife and disapproval of the husband's infidelity. It highlights the wife's long-term investment in the marriage ("She was with him when he had nothing!").
  * **Social Conversation:** People use it in conversation to describe a marital crisis. For example, "听说他要为了那个年轻的女孩跟他**原配**离婚" ("I heard he wants to divorce his original wife for that young girl"). It immediately clarifies who is who in the social drama.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 她是他的**原配**，他们已经结婚二十年了。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì tā de **yuánpèi**, tāmen yǐjīng jiéhūn èrshí nián le.
    * English: She is his original wife; they have been married for twenty years.
    * Analysis: This is a basic, descriptive use of the term. It establishes the wife's long-standing, legitimate position in the marriage.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 电视剧里，**原配**最后总是会得到观众的同情。
    * Pinyin: Diànshìjù lǐ, **yuánpèi** zuìhòu zǒngshì huì dédào guānzhòng de tóngqíng.
    * English: In TV dramas, the original wife always ends up getting the audience's sympathy.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural role and connotation of the `原配` as the sympathetic character in a story.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 那个男人为了小三，竟然抛弃了他的**原配**和孩子。
    * Pinyin: Nàge nánrén wèile xiǎosān, jìngrán pāoqìle tā de **yuánpèi** hé háizi.
    * English: That man, for the sake of his mistress, actually abandoned his original wife and children.
    * Analysis: Here, `原配` is used in direct contrast to `小三 (xiǎosān)`, which is its most common modern usage. It creates a clear moral dichotomy.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 作为**原配**，她在法律上拥有更多的权利。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi **yuánpèi**, tā zài fǎlǜ shàng yōngyǒu gèng duō de quánlì.
    * English: As the original/legal wife, she possesses more rights legally.
    * Analysis: This sentence points to the legal legitimacy associated with the term. The `原配` is the legal spouse, with rights to marital property, etc.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 新闻报道了那个富商的**原配**如何捍卫自己的婚姻。
    * Pinyin: Xīnwén bàodào le nàge fùshāng de **yuánpèi** rúhé hànwèi zìjǐ de hūnyīn.
    * English: The news reported on how the wealthy businessman's original wife defended her marriage.
    * Analysis: This usage is typical of news headlines or reports on celebrity or business scandals involving infidelity.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 不管他在外面有多少个女人，家里只有一位**原配**。
    * Pinyin: Bùguǎn tā zài wàimiàn yǒu duōshǎo ge nǚrén, jiālǐ zhǐyǒu yī wèi **yuánpèi**.
    * English: No matter how many women he has on the outside, there is only one original wife at home.
    * Analysis: This sentence powerfully emphasizes the unique and singular status of the `原配`, contrasting her with other, illegitimate partners.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他的**原配**夫人是一位很有气质的女士。
    * Pinyin: Tā de **yuánpèi** fūrén shì yī wèi hěn yǒu qìzhì de nǚshì.
    * English: His original wife is a very classy and elegant lady.
    * Analysis: Adding `夫人 (fūrén)` makes the term more formal and respectful. This is often used when describing the wife of a prominent person.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 面对丈夫的背叛，这位**原配**表现得非常冷静。
    * Pinyin: Miànduì zhàngfu de bèipàn, zhè wèi **yuánpèi** biǎoxiàn de fēicháng lěngjìng.
    * English: Facing her husband's betrayal, the wife showed great composure.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses `原配` to immediately provide context. The listener knows we are talking about a situation of infidelity without it being explicitly stated further.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 财产分割时，**原配**的孩子能分到更多吗？
    * Pinyin: Cáichǎn fēngē shí, **yuánpèi** de háizi néng fēndào gèng duō ma?
    * English: During the division of assets, do the children of the original wife get a larger share?
    * Analysis: This touches upon the practical, legal, and inheritance-related implications that come with the status of `原配`.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 人们都劝她，作为**原配**，应该大度一点，但他就是咽不下这口气。
    * Pinyin: Rénmen dōu quàn tā, zuòwéi **yuánpèi**, yīnggāi dàdù yīdiǎn, dàn tā jiùshì yàn bù xià zhè kǒu qì.
    * English: Everyone advised her that, as the original wife, she should be more magnanimous, but she just couldn't swallow her anger.
    * Analysis: This sentence reveals complex social expectations. Sometimes, the `原配` is expected to be tolerant to preserve the family, adding another layer to her difficult position.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`原配 (yuánpèi)` vs. `前妻 (qiánqī)`:** This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    * **`原配`** emphasizes "original and legitimate," and is most often used while the marriage is still legally intact but threatened by infidelity. It has strong emotional and moral weight.
    * **`前妻 (qiánqī)`** simply means "ex-wife" or "former wife." It is a neutral, factual term used after a divorce has occurred.
    * **Incorrect Usage:** "My classmate and his wife divorced amicably last year. She is his `原配`."
    * **Why it's wrong:** In this neutral context where there's no mention of infidelity or a new partner, the correct and more natural term is `前妻 (qiánqī)`. Using `原配` would sound strange and overly dramatic, as if you're implying a hidden scandal.
  * **"False Friend" with "First Wife":** Do not assume `原配` is a direct equivalent of the English "first wife." While it can mean that chronologically, its primary function in modern Chinese is to denote the *current, legitimate wife* in a situation of marital conflict. An English speaker might say "My dad's first wife was named Susan," referring to a woman he divorced long ago. You would not use `原配` in that context; you'd use `前妻`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[小三]] (xiǎo sān) - The "third person" or mistress in an affair. The direct social antagonist of the `原配`.
  * [[前妻]] (qiánqī) - Ex-wife. A neutral term used after a divorce. The male equivalent is `前夫 (qiánfū)`.
  * [[出轨]] (chūguǐ) - Literally "to go off the rails." The common verb for having an extramarital affair, to cheat.
  * [[发妻]] (fàqī) - A literary and highly respectful term for the wife who has been with a man since he was poor and unknown. It carries an even stronger sense of shared hardship and loyalty than `原配`.
  * [[正室]] (zhèngshì) - "Main house." A more formal or historical term for the legal, primary wife, very similar in meaning to `原配`.
  * [[第三者]] (dìsānzhě) - "The third party." A more formal and gender-neutral term for the person with whom someone is having an affair.
  * [[夫妻]] (fūqī) - Husband and wife; a married couple. The standard, neutral term for a marital pair.
  * [[配偶]] (pèi'ǒu) - Spouse. A formal, legal, and gender-neutral term used in documents.
  * [[婚姻]] (hūnyīn) - Marriage; matrimony. The institution itself.