Definition

1. Noun:
   • Second-ranking wife / junior wife: In historical or polygamous contexts, "vợ thứ" refers to a wife of secondary status, married after the primary wife ("vợ cả"). Her social and domestic standing was typically lower than that of the first wife.
   • Subsequent wife: In a broader, sometimes modern and figurative sense, it can refer to a wife taken after a first marriage has ended, though this usage is less common and can be ambiguous.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong chế độ đa thê xưa, vợ thứ có địa vị thấp hơn vợ cả. (In the old polygamous system, the junior wife had a lower status than the primary wife.)
  • Câu chuyện kể về cuộc đời của một người vợ thứ đầy gian truân. (The story tells of the arduous life of a second wife.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is strongly associated with historical social structures and is less applicable to contemporary, legally monogamous societies. Its use today often carries a historical, literary, or critical connotation regarding gender inequality.

Variants and Related Words

• Vợ cả (n): primary wife, first wife.
  • Vợ cả thường là người có quyền quản lý gia đình. (The primary wife was usually the one with authority to manage the household.)
• Vợ lẽ (n): a synonym for "vợ thứ," emphasizing a concubine or secondary wife.
  • "Vợ lẽ" là một từ đồng nghĩa với "vợ thứ". ("Vợ lẽ" is a synonym for "vợ thứ".)

Synonyms

• Junior wife: A wife of secondary rank.
• Secondary wife: A wife who is not the primary spouse in a polygamous marriage.
• Concubine: In some contexts, though this may imply a different legal or social status.

Notes on Meaning

• The term is specific to cultures and historical periods that practiced formalized polygamy. It is not a term for a second wife in a modern, serial monogamous context (e.g., after a divorce), which would typically be described differently.
• Its usage can be sensitive or pejorative, as it references hierarchical and often unequal marital arrangements.