<p>It is kind of 谦称 of a woman in ancient China, there are others of course</p>
<blockquote>
<p>妾 <em>or</em> 妾身 <em>or</em> 奴婢 <em>for</em> you being the wife</p>
<p>奴 <em>or</em> 奴家 <em>for</em> you being the wife <em>or</em> general cases</p>
<p>小女子 <em>for</em> general cases</p>
<p>老身 <em>for</em> older ladies</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And for men of course, their 谦称 could be</p>
<blockquote>
<p>小人 <em>for</em> you being the servant</p>
<p>鄙人 <em>for</em> general but unofficial use</p>
<p>在下 <em>for</em> you being in a relatively lower social hierarchy</p>
<p>晚生 if you are younger to your friend</p>
<p>不才 <em>for</em> proposing suggestions</p>
<p>不肖 <em>for</em> referring yourself with respect to your older relatives</p>
<p>愚弟 <em>or</em> 愚兄 <em>for</em> closer relationship</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-01T02:16:08.073Z
2018-12-01T15:01:39.940Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
zyy
<p>Poetry is never easy to understand. 奴 is used twice in this poem. I think this 奴 means I or me, in a sense of 'me, this poor slave'.</p>

<p>怪<strong>奴</strong>底事倍伤神？半为怜春半恼春。<br>
怜春忽至恼忽去，至又无言去不闻。  </p>

<p>昨宵庭外悲歌发，知是花魂与鸟魂。<br>
花魂鸟魂总难留，鸟自无言花自羞。  </p>

<p>愿<strong>奴</strong>胁下生双翼，随花飞落天尽头。<br>
天尽头，何处有香丘？ </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-01T01:32:38.293Z
一般的女性第一人称谦称罢了，我所读过的版本也作“侬”
Toosky Hierot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-01T02:54:04.110Z
我读的有：尔今死去侬收葬，未卜侬身何日丧？
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-01T04:58:24.343Z
Hey, Pedroski, long time no see - welcome back.
Mou某
<meaning-in-context>
What is the meaning of 奴 this poem from 红楼梦？
# What is the meaning of 奴 this poem from 红楼梦？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-01)

Poetry is never easy to understand. 奴 is used twice in this poem. I think this 奴 means I or me, in a sense of 'me, this poor slave'.

怪**奴**底事倍伤神？半为怜春半恼春。  
怜春忽至恼忽去，至又无言去不闻。

昨宵庭外悲歌发，知是花魂与鸟魂。  
花魂鸟魂总难留，鸟自无言花自羞。

愿**奴**胁下生双翼，随花飞落天尽头。  
天尽头，何处有香丘？

**Tags:** meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 一般的女性第一人称谦称罢了，我所读过的版本也作“侬”  
> **username_0**: 我读的有：尔今死去侬收葬，未卜侬身何日丧？  
> **username_2**: Hey, username_0, long time no see - welcome back.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-12-01. Score: 1

It is kind of 谦称 of a woman in ancient China, there are others of course

> 妾 *or* 妾身 *or* 奴婢 *for* you being the wife
>
> 奴 *or* 奴家 *for* you being the wife *or* general cases
>
> 小女子 *for* general cases
>
> 老身 *for* older ladies

And for men of course, their 谦称 could be

> 小人 *for* you being the servant
>
> 鄙人 *for* general but unofficial use
>
> 在下 *for* you being in a relatively lower social hierarchy
>
> 晚生 if you are younger to your friend
>
> 不才 *for* proposing suggestions
>
> 不肖 *for* referring yourself with respect to your older relatives
>
> 愚弟 *or* 愚兄 *for* closer relationship


---

