Definition

Noun: - Ivory badge: A small plaque or tablet made of ivory, historically worn by high-ranking mandarins (officials) in the Vietnamese imperial court to indicate their rank and grade.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong bảo tàng có trưng bày một chiếc bài ngà của một vị quan triều Nguyễn. (The museum displays an ivory badge of a mandarin from the Nguyễn dynasty.)
  • Chiếc bài ngà là biểu tượng cho địa vị và cấp bậc của vị quan. (The ivory badge was a symbol of the mandarin's position and grade.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is primarily used in historical and academic contexts to describe artifacts from Vietnam's feudal period, specifically the Nguyễn dynasty and earlier.
• It is an archaic term, reflecting a specific aspect of the old mandarinal costume and ranking system.

Variants and Related Words

• Bài: A general term for a card, plaque, or tablet. In this compound, it specifies the object's form.
• Ngà: Ivory, the material from which the badge was made.
• Áo mão: (Lit. robe and hat) Refers to the full ceremonial attire of a mandarin, of which the was a part.
• Phẩm phục: Official robes/costume.

Synonyms

• Huy hiệu ngà: Ivory insignia/emblem.
• Phù hiệu bằng ngà: Ivory badge (a more descriptive synonym).

Notes on Meaning

• The term bài ngà refers specifically to the ivory rank badge itself. It does not refer to the entire official costume, the position, or the person holding it.
• It is a compound noun where "bài" indicates a flat, plaque-like object and "ngà" specifies the material (ivory).

noun

1. Ivory badge (worn by mandarins, indicating their grades)