赡养费按照法庭判决离婚后的原配偶－－通常为夫妻中收入较多的一方给另一方的供养补助。赡养费亦可付给并未离婚的双方中的一方，如在合法分居时 An allowance for support made under court order to a divorced person by the former spouse, usually the chief provider during the marriage. Alimony may also be granted without a divorce, as between legally separated persons.
给离婚妻子的赡养费，等于给死马买燕麦。 Alimony is like buying oats for a dead horse.
有如诉讼要求赡养费的妻子一样，她是个难以折衷的对手。 She is implacable an adversary as a wife suing for alimony.
