Madame Gu

Madame Gu (顧夫人, Gù Fūrén) is a title or form of address commonly referring to the wife of someone surnamed Gu (顧). It is a polite and respectful way to refer to a married woman within Chinese-speaking communities and cultures. The term literally translates to "Madame Gu," indicating she is associated with or belongs to the Gu family through marriage. Using "Madame" followed by the husband's surname is a traditional way to address married women and acknowledge their marital status and family connection. The specific context and level of formality may vary depending on the region and social setting. While primarily used for married women, it can sometimes be applied more broadly as a respectful title, even if the marital status is unknown, though this is less common. Similar constructs exist for other surnames; for example, the wife of someone surnamed Wang would be addressed as Madame Wang.