嫔妃

嬪妃

pínfēi

noun #75,026

Measure Word

一位嫔妃 wèi

HSK 6

后宫有许多嫔妃。

Hòugōng yǒu xǔduō pínfēi.

The inner palace had many concubines.

HSK 7-9

这部电视剧讲述清朝嫔妃的故事。

Zhèbù diànshìjù jiǎngshù Qīngcháo pínfēi de gùshi.

This TV drama tells the stories of Qing-dynasty imperial concubines.

history

嫔 and 妃 were distinct ranks in the imperial harem hierarchy. Under the Qing system the ranks below 皇后 ran: 皇贵妃 > 贵妃 > 妃 > 嫔 > 贵人 > 常在 > 答应.

culture

Harem-drama genre 宫斗剧 like 《甄嬛传》 made the term widely recognized among modern viewers.

嫔 pín

妃 fēi