@article{ART003308205},
author={Jiao Yumei},
title={The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address},
journal={The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China},
issn={1738-0502},
year={2026},
number={79},
pages={185-209},
doi={10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007}
TY - JOUR
AU - Jiao Yumei
TI - The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address
JO - The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 79
PB - Korean Society of Study on Chinese Languge and Culture
SP - 185
EP - 209
SN - 1738-0502
AB - As a social term of address exclusively used for women in Modern Chinese, nüshi (女士, “lady”) is the only female honorific that did not originate from the generalization of kinship terms. From an etymological perspective, the term bears no intrinsic relation to family affiliation or marital status. Within the system of social address terms, nüshi constitutes the sole general honorific specifically designated for women: it may be used both in face-to-face address and in reference, may denote either a specific individual or women as a group, and its scope of use is largely unrestricted by factors such as marital status, age, occupation, or social standing.
Against this backdrop, the present study undertakes a detailed examination of the emergence and development of nüshi, as well as the process through which it became an integral component of the female address system in Chinese. By comparing nüshi with other related terms within the same semantic field, the study seeks to clarify its semantic and pragmatic functions, explore the motivations underlying its development and evolution, and shed light on the social–cultural psychology and value shifts reflected in its usage.
KW - nüshi (lady);female terms of address;general honorifics;pragmatic functions;social address system
DO - 10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
ER -
Jiao Yumei. (2026). The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address. The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China, 79, 185-209.
Jiao Yumei. 2026, "The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address", The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China, no.79, pp.185-209. Available from: doi:10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei "The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address" The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China 79 pp.185-209 (2026) : 185.
Jiao Yumei. The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address. 2026; 79 : 185-209. Available from: doi:10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei. "The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address" The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China no.79(2026) : 185-209.doi: 10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei. The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address. The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China, 79, 185-209. doi: 10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei. The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address. The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China. 2026; 79 185-209. doi: 10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei. The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address. 2026; 79 : 185-209. Available from: doi:10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
Jiao Yumei. "The Emergence and Pragmatic Functions of the General Honorific “Nüshi” (Lady) ― With Special Reference to the Use of Generic Female Terms of Address" The Journal of Study on Language and Culture of Korea and China no.79(2026) : 185-209.doi: 10.16874/jslckc.2026..79.007
