Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having only a son: Describes a family or a person who has just one male child and no other children. This term is often used in historical or formal contexts to discuss family lineage.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Gia đình ông ấy bị coi là độc đinh. (His family was considered to have only a son.)
  • Trong xã hội phong kiến, việc là độc đinh đôi khi là một gánh nặng. (In feudal society, being the only son could sometimes be a burden.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "độc đinh" is considered somewhat archaic and is primarily found in historical texts, discussions about traditional family structures, or legal contexts from the past. It carries a connotation related to male lineage and inheritance.

Variants and Related Words

• Con trai độc đinh (noun phrase): The sole/only son.
  • Anh ấy là con trai độc đinh trong nhà. (He is the only son in the family.)
• Một trai (phrase): One son (a simpler, more modern way to express a similar idea without the historical weight).

Synonyms

• Có một con trai: To have one son (a neutral, descriptive phrase).
• Con một là trai: The only child is a son (specifies the child is both an only child and male).

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically emphasizes the presence of a single male child. It does not necessarily mean the family has no daughters, though in its traditional interpretation, it often implied a focus on the sole male heir.
• It reflects historical values where male offspring were crucial for continuing the family line. Its usage today is rare and would be understood as a reference to those older social structures.

1. Having only a son