Glossary

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FAMILY
....... ELDERS/MASTERS
....... SIBLINGS/SPOUSES
....... FEMALES

ROYALS/NOBLES
ROYALS
....... EMPEROR WIVES
....... KING/PRINCE WIVES
....... PRINCESS / GONGZHU
NOBLES

QING DYNASTY

MISC / OTHER
...... Slang
...... "I"

  FAMILY

       

Numbered ranking precede title

Example:

3-brother, 3-Sao, 3-Shu, 2-Shumu, 3-Niang, 3-Master, 3-Laoye, 3-Aji
三弟   (sān dì)    : san (三) three or third, di (弟) younger brother.

1        大  Da [eldest, big, great, 1^st] 
                      ex: Dabo is eldest uncle, it's also use to express formality/politeness

1        一  Yi

2        二  er

3        三  san

4        四  si

5        五  wu

6        六  liu

7        七  qi

8        八  ba

9        九  jiu

10     十  shi

11     十一 shiyi

      ELDERS / MASTERS

Male Master	Spouse/Female Counterpart
Ye-Ye / 爷爷 Ye / 爷  *    Grandpa	Nai-Nai / Milk / Tai-tai 少少 / 少 / 太太 ❷ 太太/Taitai = Madam or Grandma*
Laotai Ye /老太爷 Grand Master  (Respectful) Old Master	Matron =Laotaitai 老-太太/etc  Laotai Furen   老太 夫人/etc   --"Old Dowager" in mtl :: Lao Furen  / 老夫人 --"Dowager" in mtl Old Madam/Lady/Taitai
Laoye /老爷 Senior Master    (Respectful, more than Ye)	Furen  老夫 Madam / Tai-Tai
Ye /  爷 Master	same as above
Shaoye / Shao / Less Young Master	Young... Madam / Tai-Tai / Furen
❶  Gongzi: Young Master of wealthy or noble family ❷ Lang - young man	❶  Xiao Jie: Young Lady of wealthy or noble family ❷   Qianjin: "A Thousand Gold" is a precious wealthy and noble daughter ❸  Miss  :  guniang, niang,
Uncle	Uncle’s Wife :  Auntzi
Bo / Bobo / Bofu  : father's elder brother	Bomu Bo niang / mu / ma /
Shushu / Shen / Shushu / Shufu : father’s younger brother *Shu's wife can also be called Shu	*Shu  /  Shumu Shenshen / Shenzi / Sheniang / Shenmu
Jiu / Jiujiu : mother’s brother : Mu-Uncle in mtl	Jiumu : mu-uncle’s wife : Auntzi in mtl
Aunt’s Husband     :  Unclezi	Aunt
Gufu  :  Gu taitai's husband Guye : son-in-law, used by wife’s family	Gu / Gugu* / Guma : father’s sister Gu Taitai/ Madam   ❷   Mu-Lady :  : married aunt from maiden's side
Yifu : Yi’s husband	Yi  / Yimu  / Yima : mother’s sister
Fu = husband / father	Yiniang ❶    maternal aunt      ❷   father’s concubine
In-Law    [-zi]	In-Law     [-zi]
Gonggong / Agong /公公 : father-in-law, enuch	Popo / Apo / 婆婆  : mother-in-law
Son-in-law Xu 婿, Nuxu 女婿, Guye 姑爷 (used by wife’s family)	Erxi :    ❶   Daughter-in-law      ❷   Young Maiden Xi 媳, Erxi 儿媳, Xifu 媳妇, Erxifu儿媳妇, Erxifuer儿媳妇儿

Note: *

太太/Taitai ....... Madam or Grandma

Ye / 爷 ....... Master or Grandpa

Gugu ....... Aunt or a High Ranking Female
Fu ....... husband or father
Biao ....... usually Cousin, extended family relationship via females (mother). MTL uses Watch or Table. 
Tang ....... usually Cousin, extended family relationship via males (father). MTL uses Lobby.  When cousin is seen alone it is usually a "Tang" relationship.
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        SIBLINGS / SPOUSES

         

Brother	Sister
Xiong - prefix added to any male relation to show more respect:
哥 Ge / 哥哥 Gege* : elder brother	姐 Jie / 姐姐 Jiejie* : elder sister
弟 Di / Didi : younger brother	妹 Mei / Meimei : younger sister
哥儿  Geer : title for Sons	姐儿 Jieer : title for daughters
Tang [lobby] : extended family relationship via males (ex: father's side)	Biao  [table/watch] : extended family relationship via females (ex: mother's side)
Cousin : * Tang Brother/Jie/Mei/Sister	Cousin : *  Biao Brother/Jie/Mei/Sister
Nephew :  Shizi, zhizi,	Niece : Shinu, shengnu, zhunu,

Note:  There’s no polite “I” or “You” so it is seldom used outside of profane conversations.  So these can be used as titles instead of literal (biological).

Sao 嫂 ....... Sister in law   [Sao sao / Didi wife/ etc]
                Sao can be a general title like Aunt, not necessarily a sister in law so I use Sao instead of sister in law.   I use “Sao” for younger and older during MTL editing to simplify.

Didi-Mei ....... Didi's wife, younger sibling(s),

Jiejie .......  is more intimate than Jie, I translate it to "Elder-Sister" 

Gege .......  is more intimate than Ge, I translate it to "Elder-Brother"

Cousin ....... Tang/Biao  Brother/Sister/Mei/

.......  Biao .......  extended family relationship via females. MTL uses Watch or Table. 
.......  Tang .......  extended family relationship via males. MTL uses Lobby. 

....... Tang/Biao Aunt/Uncle/Grandmother etc all

....... Cousin’s wife is Cousin/Biao/Table Sao.

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        FEMALES

       

Legitimate/Legal Wife

Furen ........... legal wife, official wives can be titled/sealed like their husbands with pin/ranks.  True Furens have a minimum title reqirement.   

Taitai / Madam ........... legal wife
Some concubines of the nobility class can be called “Madam”.

Yuanpei Furen  ........... legal wife that was first married (first official wife before all the rest)

Follow Room ........... 2nd Legal wife after first legal wife’s death or legal divorce, Still lower status than original 1^st wife.  Their children will also be of lower status than those borned from orginal 1^st wife.

Muqin / Diniang / Mother  ........... Only a legal wife may be referred to as "mother"

Niang  ...........  mother or Ms

Erxi ........... is a young wife or daughter in law

Family  ........... can mean wife, but is not used often  [ex Erlang's family = Erlang's wife]

Other Wives

2nd or Flat Wife  ........... Highest status concubine, but still not a legitimate wife

Concubines :

Guiqie ........... Noble Concubine, higher status
Jianqie / Lowqie / cheap qie ........... literally "lowly" concubine
Ceshi ...........  Side room / concubine
Shiqie ...........  unlimited number. There’s no wedding ceremony here.
Tongfang ........... Lowest ranking concubine, still a maid
Qie/Qieshi ........... Concubine
Dowry Maid ........... maid taken when a lady marries, usually to help "serve" the host's husband upon pregnancy.
Outside Room ........... Mistress kept outside of residence
Thin Horse ........... professional trained to serve men 瘦马
***
Niang ........... legitimate and non legitimate wives may use the title Niang.
can mean a married woman / concubine, a lady, a young lady.
Niangqin ........... biological mother
Yiniang ...........   father’s concubine
Gu niang ...........  means Young Lady, but is also a Qing dynasty title for a harem’s concubine. 

Titles

Shi 氏 ........... example:  Song-shi
shi means clan name. Women, upon marriage, are identified by their maiden surname and it is very rare that their personal name is recorded. This is the case even for princesses. They would then be referred to as ––shi, to identify the family they came from. (1)

Xiaojie ...........  Young Lady, usually from a noble family. 

Gongzi ...........  Young Master, usually from a noble family.

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  ROYALS / NOBLES

Royal	Legal Spouse
先帝 Xiandi : Former dynasty Emperor	Tai-Empress Dowager (prior prior) Empress Dowager
太上皇 : Tai Emperor Taishang Huang, Retired emperor, father of the reigning emperor	Empress Dowager
Emperor	Empress : other wives below
Crown Prince (Huang/Taizi)	Crown Princess (Huang/Taizi Fei)
Taisun (Sun Taizi /Huang Taisun) : Crown Prince Heir	Taisun Fei
Wang / King or Prince Qinwang : can be sealed King of whole region	Wangfei  /  Zhengfei (Main Fei) Qingwang Fei /
Junwang : County	Jungwang Fei / Wangfei
Prince: Wangzi / Huangzi Prince : Bald, not titled/sealed yet	Wangzi Fei / Huangzi Fei Wangfei
Shizi / Wang Heir	Heir Fei
Princess	Fuma   :  驸马
County Owner	County Ma   :  Junma 君马

* More below

 

Wang  ........... King
*  A prince must be "sealed" before he becomes a proper Wang.  A prince sealed with his own land becomes the King of that land and is usually released to the land.  A King needs special permission from the Emperor to return the Capital.
*  Royal ranks may be granted as an Honorary Title instead of a Royal offspring.

*  Wangfa ........... King's Law

Mother : 
Taihou  ........... empress dowager
Muhou  ........... mother empress
Mufei  ........... mother fei/consort
Muqin  ........... mother

Father :
Fu Huang  ........... father emperor
Fu Wang  ........... father wang
Fu  ........... father

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     EMPEROR WIVES 

       

Emperor Wives and number allowed in each position: 

(will vary from dynasty to dynasy)

1 Empress (皇后) Huang Hou

1 Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃)  (Huang Guifei)
: usually only Empress or Huang Guifei, they should not coexist

2 Noble Consorts (贵妃)(Guifei)

4 Consorts (妃)(Fei)

6 Imperial Concubines (嫔)(pin)
: Pins can be leads or owners of a palace.

[unlimited allowed]

Noble (贵)

Shufei, titleless imperial concubine NOT Shufei (淑妃) warm and virtuous

Changzai (常在), 1st-Class Female Attendant

Dayin/Promise (答应), 2nd-Class Female Attendant

Beautiful Lady (美人) meiren

The Talented Lady (才人)  cairen

Good Lady (良人) liangren

Shanggong (尚宮)

Shangyi (尚儀)

Shangfu (尚服)

Chosen Maid (官女子), Guan Nuzi
typically granted to female servants whom the emperor has taken to a liking and to accompany him without any official recognition while still doing regular servant work. This rank was not part of the official concubine ranking.

Pinfei / Feipin / Feizi
General term for royal concubines

Niang Niang
Title for ranked imperial consorts

Former Emperor’s Wives - add “Tai” to titles
Taipin, Taifei,

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     KING / PRINCE WIVES 

Fei = Consort

       
Zheng Fei .......... :  Main Fei, only legal wife

Wang Fei .......... : Wang Fei usually means "Zheng Fei"  

Cefei/Sidefei .......... : side consort/chamber, highest ranked concubine, usu. 2 max (depends on rank and dynasty)

Shufei .......... : a royal concubine, higher than shiqie

Furen .......... : Furen are ranked and granted like other titles, usually related to husband/son's position

Shiqie : lower rank concubine

Tongfang : lowest recognized qie, not ranked as concubine, but higher than just a service maid

Ranked Concubines   (seldom used)

Shanggong (尚宮)

Shangyi (尚儀)

Shangfu (尚服)

Wang Fei  ..........   usually means Main Fei, but can also be Wang's Fei [a Wang's consort].  A Cefei or shufei is also a fei.

Ranks of the wives of the prince of first rank and also the crown prince.

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      PRINCESS / GONGZHU

        

Gongzhu / Princess

First Princess..........  gulun gonzhu, 1st rank, or 固倫公主; 固伦公主]

1st Elder Princess..........  Da zhang gongzhu 大长公主

Elder Princess..........  zhang gongzhu 长公主

2nd Elder Princess..........  2nd rank  和硕公主  

Heshuo Princess..........  2nd rank  和碩公主 
Usually granted to daughters of the Emperor

Husband .......... :  Fuma 驸马

*Note:  There are other princesses 3^rd rank and lower but rarely used in novels.

Junzhu / County Owner

County Owner, junzhu 郡主..........  3rd rank princess

.......... Usually granted to daughters of Qinwang or

Junior County Owner, Xianzhu县主..........  4th rank

.......... Usually granted to daughters of Jungwang or shizi

Other Titles

Command Lady, Junjun (郡君), 1^st Rank

County Lady, Xianjun 县君, 2^nd Rank

Village Lady, Xiangjun 乡君, 3^rd Rank

Husband .......... :  Junma 君马

Note:  Princesses and County owners can own land and collect income like Junwang.  They also can bestowed their own “Fu” or Residence instead of living with inlaws.  They can also be titled in name only with no power, money, or land.

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     NOBLES 

       

Male	Legal Wives
Town/1st Duke : Zhen Guogong 鎮國公 Duke : Guogong / Guojue* /Guo 国公/公爵/公/	Duchess  :  Guogong Furen
Maquis : Houye  侯/侯爵	Marchioness : Hou Furen
Count/Earl  : Boye  伯/伯爵	Countess : Bo Furen
Viscount : Zi子   [rarely used]	Viscountess : Zi Furen
Baron : Nan 男 [rarely used]	Baroness : Nan Furen
Prime Minister / Xiang	Xiang Furen
1st Assistant / Shoufu /首辅 :  Chief Cabinet Clerk = Prime Minister	Shoufu Furen

Other Common Ranks

Dajiang 大将 .......... 1^st General/Admiral

Jiangjun 将军 .......... high-ranking military officer

Aunt  姑姑 [gugu]  .......... Is a high ranking older female (usually a senior ranked Palace Lady)  

 

Notes:

Jue 爵.......... Hereditary, titles will be reduced if current or next title holder does not earn enough merit to retain rank.  *usually*  Heirs can inherent for 3 generations, each generation a lower rank

Furen ranking .......... 命妇.......... Command Madam
In addition to their husband’s titles, Furens can also be individually sealed by the emperor w/ pin/ranks like their husbands.  This elevates their status above lower ranks or rankless Furens regardless of title.
一品 1^st Grade  aka Yipin

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     QING DYNASTY 

        

Qinwang ..........1st Class Wang, can be granted Kinghood of a region

Junwang ..........County Wang

Banner—Prince ...........  [Beile] 貝勒/贝勒

Banner—Lord...........  [Beizi] 貝子/贝子 

Wives

Fujin .......... : legal wife

Side-Fujin .......... : highest ranked concubine, considered a master, how many allowed depends on rank

Shu-Fujin .......... : higher ranked Jiji

Jiji .......... : middle ranked concubine, Jiji granted by decree cannot be "gifted" to others like lower ranked qie.

Shiqie .......... : half maid, cannot have children [their children are adopted by higher ranked concubines]

Tongfang .......... : still considered a maid

Note:  Concubines can be called little master or Guniang [mtl: Miss/Lady]

Children

 ❶  Princess ❷  daughter of nobles/royals  ❸  Concubine higher than shiqie

Ama 阿玛 ..........  :  father,   Huang Ama : Father Emperor
Mama 玛玛 .......... :  Grandmother
Ye (Master) .......... : Prince or son of nobles/royals
Aji .......... :   阿哥    Age :  Sons of Prince, nobles/royals
Jiji .......... :  格格   Gege   :  

Others
Bababead........... Young aji's companion

Banner System [for MTL]

宗女       Clanswoman [Zongnü]

镶黄旗   Inner/Banner [Elite/Banner]

包衣旗   Servant/Banner [coated flag]

包衣       Servant/Class [coated flag]

汉包衣   Han Servant/Banner

Period of Peace and Prosperity :  Kangxi, Yongzhen, Qianlong

❶  Kangxi 68 years, (1654-1722) - reigned from 1661 to 1722

: Xuanye
: longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history, and amongst the longest reign in the world
: considered one of China's greatest emperors
: reign brought about long-term stability and relative wealth

❷   Yongzheng 56 years, (1678-1735) - reigned from 1722 to 1735
: Siye/4th Master, Yizhen
: main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense
: Hard working; reign was known for being despotic, efficient, and vigorous
: Unnatural death, most likely poisoning

 

❸   Qianlong, 87 years (1711-1799) - reigned from 1735 to 1796
: Siye/4th Master, Hongli

:
 

 

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     MISC

 

Servants

Nubi, Nucai

Maids
.......... MTL.......... cockroach, cricket, jealousy, ring

Yahuan丫鬟.......... servant girl, can also be called

Yatou  丫头 .......... : girl, servant girl.   Can be used deprecatingly or as a term of endearment. Is considered rustic in the countryside.endearment.
  -   Maids are usually named after colors, flowers, seasons and named as a series

Pozi .......... : old female, and is used similarly to.
Mama.......... :  pozi that serve masters closely

Bababead........... Young aji's companion

Location

Fu .......... :  A very large, manor like residence .  Usually an offical residence granted by title.
         [mtl: government/house]

Yuan .......... : residence / courtyard  

Zhuangzi .......... :  Farm Estate outside of city.

Jiangnan ..........  South Yangtze river, well known for riches, abundance in grains, farming, fishing, scholars. and beauties.

Occupation

Da Fu  .......... :    Doctor  [mtl: Da Husband]

Tai Yi  .......... :    Imperial Doctor

Shifu ..........  :   Teacher / Master

Others

Chongxi .......... : arrange a wedding for a very ill young man with the hope that the ’event of great joy’ will drive away his bad luck and hasten his recovery

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  Slangs

Social animal .......... self-deprecating term for office workers at the bottom, from Japan
Bai fumei ..........  : Light-skinned, rich, and beautiful. A stereotype of an ideal woman for dating or marriage.
Bai Lianhua/White lotus flower ..........  . 1. Kind, innocent, lovable, good people. 2. People who pretend to be kind, innocent, and lovable.
Green tea+bitch ..........  An ostensibly graceful and innocent young woman who is actually very calculating. This Internet slang term was created in 2013 to describe models and actresses who lead a dissipated life around the rich and powerful for personal gain.

Cut .......... internet humor slang term, to indicate the transition from background information to the main part of the joke.
Chicken soup ..........   Originating from the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which consist of inspirational stories about ordinary people’s lives, this Internet slang term refers to inspirational stories, quotes, and maxims. Sometimes the term is used sarcastically.
chrysanthemum ..........  this slang term refers to the anus.
Sand sculpture ..........  沙雕 homophonic "silly dick", used to mock retardation and neurosis. Now refers to people who are funny or interesting.

Dog+blood ..........  1) Since dog blood was often used for exorcism in Hong Kong horror film scenes, it became an Internet meme to describe trite and highly predictable movie or TV drama scenes; 2) of, relating to ludirously unrealistic movie or TV drama scenes; 3) of, relating to, or characterized by schmaltz, dramatized sentimentalism, as in TV shows and movies; 4) of, relating to life events that are ridiculous and infuriating.
To blacken .......... This Internet slang term means to mock or tease a friend or to bash, malign, or vilify one’s enemy.
Black+history .......... One’s disgraceful past. Sometimes it is used humorously to describe one’s embarrassing experiences when he or she was a rookie.
Black lines .......... The emoticon is used to indicate embarrassment.
BL .......... Boy love, works with gay storylines
Lily .......... Lesbian

Spicy chicken ..........  This Internet slang term is a humorous way of saying 垃圾 [lā ji] “trash, douchebags, contemptible people.”
Big-faced ..........  This Internet slang term is used to criticize someone for being brazen or narcissistic.
 8 King Egg / Wang Ba ..........   : son of a b*tch, a curse
CP ..........: Couple
Danshengou/Single dog ..........  This Internet slang term refers to single people who are eager to enter a relationship but find it difficult to achieve the goal.
233 ..........  LOL
Pheonix man/woman .......... one of humble origin who has risen to sucess
Rich second generation .......... children of wealthy parents. This term is often used sarcastically by the working class.
Gao Siling/Commander Gao .......... Internet slang term is a nickname for Ryan Gosling because it sounds like the Chinese translation of his last name

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More slangs can be found here:  https://hahachn.wordpress.com/internet-slang-glossary/

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  " I "

       

Zhen
.......... : used by emperor

Mourning family, Aijia哀家
.......... :  used by an empress dowager

Gu, Lonely, 哀孤 
.......... :  used by crown prince

Ben : This
.......... Bengong: this palace, used by female royals of higher rank
.......... Benwang: this king, used by Wangye

.......... This Hall/Temple/Palace:  used by prince

Chen : Your subject
.......... Chennu - your subject’s daughter, used by daughters of officials
.......... Chenqie - this subject wife, used by noble/royal wives and qie
.......... Erchen - your subject son, used by princes
.......... Weichen - your subject minister, used my officials

Your Servant :
.......... Nucai, Nubi – used by slaves (actually means slave not servant)
.......... Qie, Qieshi, Servant/Slave Qie – Your concubine, used by all wives

***

Humble One .......... Xiaoren, small one, the villain,

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