1.
wife and children, family
One's wife and children considered together. A somewhat formal or literary term that refers to a man's immediate family. Implies the speaker or subject is male.
妻子を養う。
To support one's wife and children.
彼は妻子を残して海外に赴任した。
He left his wife and children behind and was posted overseas.
妻子ある身で無責任な行動をするべきではない。
A man with a wife and children shouldn't behave irresponsibly.
USAGE:
A formal or literary compound. The 妻 reading of 妻 is used only in compounds. This word inherently refers to a man's family; it does not have a female equivalent in common use.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 妻子を養う: to support one's wife and children
- 妻子を残して: leaving one's family behind
- 妻子ある身: a man with a family
- 妻子を持つ: to have a wife and children
READING NOTE:
Read as さいし, not つまこ. The on'yomi compound reading is the standard form.