- (North American English) used as a polite way of addressing a woman(尊称)女士,夫人
- ‘Can I help you, ma'am?’“要帮忙吗,夫人?”
compare sir - (British English) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army(对女王或高级女警官、女军官的敬称)
see also madamWord Originmid 17th cent.: contraction of madam.