继母 jìmǔ stepmother
How to remember 继母: 继 continue + 母 mother = stepmother.
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How it is used
- 'Stepmother', the neutral kinship term - 她是我的继母 (tā shì wǒ de jìmǔ) she's my stepmother.
- The 继 (jì, to succeed/continue) prefix marks step-relations; pairs with 继父 (jìfù, stepfather), 继子 (jìzǐ, stepson).
- Factual register, no negative connotation by itself.