三姑六婆

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Chinese

More information three, paternal aunt ...
three paternal aunt six grandmother; matron; mother-in-law
trad. (三姑六婆)
simp. #(三姑六婆)
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Etymology

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Refers to the three ():

  • 尼姑 (nígū, “Buddhist nun”),
  • 道姑 (dàogū, “Taoist nun”), and
  • 卦姑 (guàgū, “female fortune teller”),

and the six ():

  • 牙婆 (yápó, “female human trafficker”),
  • 媒婆 (méipó, “female matchmaker”),
  • 師婆师婆 (shīpó, “sorceress”),
  • 虔婆 (qiánpó, “female brothel keeper”),
  • 藥婆药婆 (yàopó, “female doctor”), and
  • 穩婆稳婆 (wěnpó, “female midwife”).

In ancient China, women of these occupations often swindled money from people and were not reputable.

Pronunciation


Idiom

三姑六婆

  1. women with disreputable or illegal professions
  2. (figurative) (female) gossipmongers

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