妻 is an 8-stroke kanji with radical 女 (woman). It reads さい (on'yomi) and つま (kun'yomi), meaning wife or spouse. The structure is top-over-bottom: a compact upper block sits above the character 女, held together by a long horizontal stroke that crosses the midpoint like a belt.

Readings of 妻

• On'yomi: さい — 夫妻 (husband and wife), 妻子 (wife and children), 人妻 (another man's wife)
• Kun'yomi: つま — 妻 (wife), 若妻 (young wife), 義理の妻 (wife by marriage)

さい appears in formal compound words; つま is the everyday spoken word for one's own wife.

Meanings of 妻

• Wife, spouse — the female partner in a marriage; 妻 in modern Japanese most naturally refers to a woman in a married couple
• Legal usage — 配偶者 (spouse, gender-neutral) is the formal legal term; 妻 traditionally denotes a female spouse

How to Write 妻 — Structure and Stroke Order

妻 has 8 strokes and a top-over-bottom structure. The most difficult moment is the long horizontal in the middle and the transition into 女 at the base.

• Stack the upper block on the center line. From the first short horizontal through the vertical and ヨ-shape: build upward along the center, keeping it compact vertically without spreading sideways.
• Draw the long horizontal as a single belt. The stroke that crosses the midpoint is the structural backbone of the character. Angle it very slightly upward to the right, and commit — one uninterrupted sweep. If this line wavers, the whole character tilts.
• Open 女 wide at the base. The final three strokes of 女 come last. Place the crossing of くの字at the center line, then let the left sweep and the long rightward stroke open broadly outward: this wide base receives the weight of everything above and stabilizes the form.

Expression in Each Script

Kaisho (Regular Script)

Stack the upper strokes at even intervals; draw the long horizontal clearly and straight. Place the crossing of 女 on the center line and let both sweeps reach wide. Clean starts, stops, and sweeps give the character a measured composure.

Gyosho (Semi-Cursive Script)

Carry the brush from the upper block into the long horizontal without fully lifting it; let 女 round slightly. The weight of the stroke carries warmth without losing the structure.

Sosho (Cursive Script)

Simplify the upper block, then let the long horizontal and 女 run in one continuous movement. Keep the center line clear and the lower spread open: even abbreviated, the top-over-bottom balance must read.

Summary

妻 is an 8-stroke, 女-radical kanji meaning wife. Stack the upper block at the center, draw the long horizontal in one sure stroke, and open 女 wide to receive it: that balance gives the character its settled, grounded form.