寡妇 guǎfu widow
How to remember 寡妇: 寡 widowed + 妇 married woman = widow.
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How it is used
- A widow - 她年轻时就成了寡妇 (tā niánqīng shí jiù chéng le guǎfu) she became a widow while still young.
- Neutral factual term, though it can sound a touch harsh; the 寡 means 'alone/few.'
- Male counterpart is 鳏夫 (guānfū, widower), far rarer in speech.