Definition

1. Noun:

   • Salary, stipend: Specifically refers to the official salary or stipend of a mandarin or government official in historical contexts.
   • Perk, windfall: An unexpected benefit, bonus, or piece of good fortune received outside of one's regular salary.

2. Adjective:

   • High-pitched, treble: Describes a sound, especially a voice or musical note, that is high in pitch.
   • High, aloft: Describes something being lifted or held high up in the air.

3. Adverb (used after a verb):

   • High up, aloft: Indicates the action of lifting or throwing something to a high position.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Ông quan sống bằng bổng của triều đình. (The mandarin lived on the court's stipend.)
  • Anh ta được một món bổng ngoài dự tính. (He received an unexpected windfall.)

• Adjective:

  • Giọng hát của cô ấy rất bổng. (Her singing voice is very high-pitched.)
  • Cậu bé nhấc bổng gói hàng lên. (The boy lifted the package high up.)

• Adverb:

  • Cầu thủ đá bổng quả bóng. (The player kicked the ball high up.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in classical or formal contexts when referring to official salaries. In modern usage, the nominal meaning is largely found in compound words, while the adjectival/adverbial meanings remain in active use.
• The phrase (now high, now low) is a fixed expression used to describe fluctuating sounds or, metaphorically, changing fortunes or moods.

Variants and Related Words

• Bổng lộc (n): Salary and perks (of an official).
• Học bổng (n): Scholarship (literally, "study stipend").
• Lương bổng (n): Salary and allowances.
• Thăng bổng (v): To promote (in position and salary).

Synonyms

• Noun: Stipend, emolument, perk, bonus, windfall.
• Adjective: High, sharp (in pitch), treble, soaring.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lên bổng xuống trầm: To rise high and fall low. Used literally for sound or metaphorically for the vicissitudes of life or emotion.
  • Cuộc đời lên bổng xuống trầm. (Life has its ups and downs.)
• Được của bổng: To get a lucky windfall.
• Bay bổng: To soar high (literally or figuratively, as in one's imagination).
  • Tâm hồn bay bổng theo âm nhạc. (The soul soars with the music.)

noun

1. Mandarin's salary
2. Perquisites, perks
3. Godsend, boon; a piece of just my luck
   • không dưng được cái bổng
     an unexpected piece of just my luck

adj

1. High, high-pitched, treble
   • giọng bổng
     a high-pitched voice
   • tiếng sáo khi bổng khi trầm
     the flute's sound is now high now low
   • lên bổng xuống trầm
     to rise high and fall low
2. dùng phụ sau động từ) High up
   • nhấc bổng lên
     to lift high up