Definition

1. Noun:
   • The entire army; all troops: A classical and literary term referring to the complete military forces under a commander's authority. It originates from the historical organization of armies into three main divisions (e.g., center, left, and right wings; or navy, army, air force), but its core meaning is the collective whole of the armed forces.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tướng quân thề trước ba quân. (The general took an oath before the entire army.)
  • "Ba quân chỉ ngọn cờ đào." (Truyện Kiều) ("The whole army points to the pink banner." (The Tale of Kieu))

Advanced Usage

• The term "ba quân" is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal rhetorical contexts to evoke grandeur, unity, and martial spirit. It is not used in modern, everyday military reports.

Variants and Related Words

• Quân đội (n): Army, military forces (modern, general term).
• Toàn quân (n): The whole army (a more modern synonym, often used in official contexts).

Synonyms

• The armed forces
• The whole army
• All troops
• The military host (literary)

Related Idioms

• Thề trước ba quân: To swear an oath before the entire army; to make a solemn, public pledge of great importance.

noun

1. The whole of an army (placed under a general's command)
   • thề trước ba quân
     to take an oath before all one's troops, to take a pledge before one's whole army