wife

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 妻 means wife; its kun-reading is つま and its on-reading is さい.
• Basic usage: 妻(つま) means a wife, while 夫妻(ふさい) means a married couple.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A wife and a term for the couple together
  • 妻に長い手紙を書く means writing a long letter to one's wife. It identifies the wife as the individual receiving the letter.
  • 先生夫妻 means the teacher and spouse. The latter part of 夫妻 is read さい, and the word appears when inviting the couple together.