Go widow
A humorous, mildly critical term for a partner who is often left alone because of a player’s intensive commitment to Go.
Go widow refers to the spouse or partner of a Go player whose substantial time spent playing or studying Go makes the partner feel effectively widowed. The expression humorously, or sometimes with mild criticism, points to the social cost of intensive involvement in the game.
The term is figurative: it does not mean that the partner is literally widowed. It is informal and gendered, and may sound dated or insensitive, particularly when applied to someone without their consent. Because it describes a relationship’s experience rather than a Go skill or position, it is best used carefully and with awareness of the person’s own preferences.
This term in other languages