<blockquote>
<p>古代女性所用的化妆品落后，一般所用的搽脸粉含铅，有毒性，长期使用会导致脸色变黄。所以年纪愈大的女性，受害时间愈长，受害愈深。故年长一些的女性就会呈现“黄脸婆”的症状。<br />
<sub><a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%BB%84%E8%84%B8%E5%A9%86/7037385" rel="nofollow noreferrer">黄脸婆</a> [huáng liǎn pó]</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The ancient women's cosmetics are backwards, with face powder containing lead, and those generally used are toxic, long-term use can lead to pale yellowness. So in older women, the longer the time of injury, the more severe. The older women will show a 'Huanglian Po'.
现代的“黄脸婆”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>①大龄女人卵巢功能减退，导致内分泌失调，在皮肤上形成黄褐斑，脸色泛黄。</p>
<p>②指女子因各种原因导致肌肤表面老化，黄黑色素的生成，细胞沉积。</p>
<p>③指男人对妻子的贬称，往往感情出了问题，男方厌倦女方，婚姻出现危机。</p>
<p>④指容貌不好看的女子，不一定是中年女子，带有贬义，一般是骂人时用的。<br />
<sub><a href="https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/36596180" rel="nofollow noreferrer">成为黄脸婆的坏习惯，你中招了吗？</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Modern 'wives':</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Older woman have ovarian dysfunction, leading to endocrine disorders, melasma forming on the skin, pale yellow.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Refers to women and is caused by aging of the skin surface, generating yellow melanin, cell deposition.</p>
</li>
<li><p>The mean man disparages his wife, often causing emotional problems; the man is tired of the woman, leading to a marriage crisis.</p>
</li>
<li><p>The appearance of women is not good, not necessarily for middle-aged woman, carrying negativity, is generally used.</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-05-16T19:50:43.183Z
2020-09-23T00:43:08.880Z
2020-09-23T00:43:08.880Z
Zecy
<p>All the answer mean 黄脸婆 yellow face wife. Normally would say it to Woman only.</p>
<ul>
<li>黃臉婆 （Traditional chinese， which is writing in Taiwan)</li>
<li>黄脸婆（Simplified chinese， which is writing in China)</li>
</ul>
<p>Poker face is</p>
<ol>
<li>撲克臉（Traditional chinese), <a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-my/%E6%89%91%E5%85%8B%E8%84%B8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">扑克脸</a></li>
<li>面無表情</li>
</ol>
<p>As for traditional and simplified chinese, and why there look similar yet different. Please search relevant info.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-22T15:09:47.740Z
2020-09-22T21:11:23.700Z
2020-09-22T21:11:23.700Z
Edward Chan JW
<p>I guess the term you mentioned, yellow wife, is referred to "黃臉婆" (yellow-face wife).</p>

<p>"黃臉婆" describes a woman who has married for a long time.
The (face) color indicates that she has aged with the burden of housework.
(Someone says, in ancient China, to cover the aging face, women misuse the cosmetics with lead and make their face getting yellow. The elder, more yellow.)</p>

<p>It's a negative term. Husbands use this term to describe their wife as love is fading out.
Wives complain the houseworks and the relationship by calling themselves as "黃臉婆"</p>

<p>I think there's some differences between poker face and this term. : )</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-07T10:07:14.337Z
Mostly agreed. But as to why the face has gone yellow, I think the reason is 1) the strain of housework has impacted her health so the microcirculation is no longer in good condition, and/or 2) the housewife has been too busy involving in housework that she does not have time to put on make up powders, which is usually white, to cover the yellow skin color.
Rephinx
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T12:54:07.617Z
Yes this was the phrase I heard. Thanks for the explanation.
quipquopro
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-04T22:43:46.320Z
Sounds dreadful and offensive saying that to your wife.
user76935
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-07T09:46:28.283Z
2014-05-07T09:46:28.283Z
chintown
<p>I looked online and couldn't find an answer. I was told it means something similar to "poker face" here in Taiwan. Do you know what this might mean? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-07T09:23:19.777Z
Do you mean "黄脸婆" in your title? If so, I suggest you change your title.
fefe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-07T15:23:09.090Z
Did you mean the poker face expression of "面無表情" or was there some other phrase?
Tommie C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-07T22:46:26.780Z
Can you please state the Chinese word? The answer has made some assumptions about it and might or might not be what you are looking for. -1 for 'unclear' from me.
deutschZuid
<slang>
What does "yellow face wife" (黄脸婆) mean?
# What does "yellow face wife" (黄脸婆) mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-07)

I looked online and couldn't find an answer. I was told it means something similar to "poker face" here in Taiwan. Do you know what this might mean?

**Tags:** slang

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean "黄脸婆" in your title? If so, I suggest you change your title.  
> **username_2**: Did you mean the poker face expression of "面無表情" or was there some other phrase?  
> **username_3**: Can you please state the Chinese word? The answer has made some assumptions about it and might or might not be what you are looking for. -1 for 'unclear' from me.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-05-07. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

I guess the term you mentioned, yellow wife, is referred to "黃臉婆" (yellow-face wife).

"黃臉婆" describes a woman who has married for a long time.
The (face) color indicates that she has aged with the burden of housework.
(Someone says, in ancient China, to cover the aging face, women misuse the cosmetics with lead and make their face getting yellow. The elder, more yellow.)

It's a negative term. Husbands use this term to describe their wife as love is fading out.
Wives complain the houseworks and the relationship by calling themselves as "黃臉婆"

I think there's some differences between poker face and this term. : )

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Mostly agreed. But as to why the face has gone yellow, I think the reason is 1) the strain of housework has impacted her health so the microcirculation is no longer in good condition, and/or 2) the housewife has been too busy involving in housework that she does not have time to put on make up powders, which is usually white, to cover the yellow skin color.  
> **username_0**: Yes this was the phrase I heard. Thanks for the explanation.  
> **username_8**: Sounds dreadful and offensive saying that to your wife.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-05-16. Score: 2

> 古代女性所用的化妆品落后，一般所用的搽脸粉含铅，有毒性，长期使用会导致脸色变黄。所以年纪愈大的女性，受害时间愈长，受害愈深。故年长一些的女性就会呈现“黄脸婆”的症状。  
> [黄脸婆](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%BB%84%E8%84%B8%E5%A9%86/7037385) [huáng liǎn pó]

The ancient women's cosmetics are backwards, with face powder containing lead, and those generally used are toxic, long-term use can lead to pale yellowness. So in older women, the longer the time of injury, the more severe. The older women will show a 'Huanglian Po'.
现代的“黄脸婆”

> ①大龄女人卵巢功能减退，导致内分泌失调，在皮肤上形成黄褐斑，脸色泛黄。
>
> ②指女子因各种原因导致肌肤表面老化，黄黑色素的生成，细胞沉积。
>
> ③指男人对妻子的贬称，往往感情出了问题，男方厌倦女方，婚姻出现危机。
>
> ④指容貌不好看的女子，不一定是中年女子，带有贬义，一般是骂人时用的。  
> [成为黄脸婆的坏习惯，你中招了吗？](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/36596180)

Modern 'wives':

1. Older woman have ovarian dysfunction, leading to endocrine disorders, melasma forming on the skin, pale yellow.
2. Refers to women and is caused by aging of the skin surface, generating yellow melanin, cell deposition.
3. The mean man disparages his wife, often causing emotional problems; the man is tired of the woman, leading to a marriage crisis.
4. The appearance of women is not good, not necessarily for middle-aged woman, carrying negativity, is generally used.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-09-22. Score: 0

All the answer mean 黄脸婆 yellow face wife. Normally would say it to Woman only.

* 黃臉婆 （Traditional chinese， which is writing in Taiwan)
* 黄脸婆（Simplified chinese， which is writing in China)

Poker face is

1. 撲克臉（Traditional chinese), [扑克脸](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-my/%E6%89%91%E5%85%8B%E8%84%B8)
2. 面無表情

As for traditional and simplified chinese, and why there look similar yet different. Please search relevant info.


---

