‘元配’ (yuán pèi) literally combines 元 (yuán), meaning ‘first’ or ‘original’, and 配 (pèi), meaning ‘spouse’ or ‘to match’. Together, it refers specifically to a person’s first legally married spouse—most commonly the first wife in traditional or formal contexts. Though historically gendered (often implying the husband’s first wife), it can technically apply to either spouse in legal or genealogical records. It carries a formal, sometimes literary or bureaucratic tone and is rarely used in casual conversation.

The term emphasizes legitimacy and chronological priority in marriage, distinguishing the first spouse from later ones—especially relevant in discussions of inheritance, family lineage, or historical biographies. Unlike colloquial terms like ‘原配夫人’ (yuán pèi fūrén, ‘first wife’ with honorific), ‘元配’ itself is neutral and concise, often appearing in official documents, obituaries, or scholarly writing about family structure. It does not imply moral judgment but signals marital sequence and legal recognition.