- (North American English) used as a polite way of addressing a woman(尊稱)女士,夫人
- ‘Can I help you, ma'am?’“要幫忙嗎,夫人?”
compare sir - (British English) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army(對女王或高級女警官、女軍官的敬稱)
see also madamWord Originmid 17th cent.: contraction of madam.