男尊女卑
nán zūn nǚ bēi
men are superior and women inferior
Character by character
男nán
men
men
尊zūn
honoured
honoured
女nǚ
women
women
卑bēi
lowly
lowly
Example
在男尊女卑的旧社会，女人结婚以后常常连名字都没有，只被叫作“张氏”“李氏”。
In the old society, where men stood high and women low, a married woman often lost even her name and was known only as “née Zhang” or “née Li”.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From 《列子》, where a contented old man counts being born male among his joys: 男女之别，男尊女卑. The 1950 Marriage Law named it in its first article as part of the feudal marriage system it abolished. Used of ideas and societies: 男尊女卑的思想.
Learn this in Lesson 50 · HSK 5–6: 半边天 (Women hold up half the sky)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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