嫔妃 (pínfēi): imperial concubine

Measure Word

一位嫔妃 wèi

Hòugōng yǒu xǔduō pínfēi.

The inner palace had many concubines.

Zhè bù 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