Different word of "wife" in Chinese qi1 zi3 lao3 po2 Comment: qi1 zi3 is more formal. But when you call your wife face to face, you don't want it to be such a formal scene, then you can usc Lao3 po2. Lao3: old. Po2: old woman. It's not rude to call your wife an old woman in Chinese. It shows that she is your dear.