Definition

1. Noun (Historical/Military):
   • Troops and horses: Refers collectively to soldiers and cavalry, representing the core components of a traditional army's fighting force.
   • Military force / Armed forces: Symbolizes military power and strength, often in a classical or historical context.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhà vua huy động binh mã để bảo vệ biên giới. (The king mobilized troops and horses to defend the border.)
  • Thế lực ấy có binh mã hùng hậu. (That faction possesses a formidable military force.)
  • Cuộc chiến tiêu hao nhiều binh mã. (The war depleted much of the military strength.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical narratives, classical literature, or to evoke an image of ancient warfare.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe any powerful, organized group ready for action, though this is less common.

Variants and Related Words

• Thiên binh vạn mã (idiomatic phrase): Literally "thousands of troops and tens of thousands of horses"; used to describe an immense, vast army.
  • Họ kéo đến như thiên binh vạn mã. (They arrived like a vast, innumerable army.)

Synonyms

• Army: A large organized military force.
• Military forces: The combined arms of a nation.
• Cavalry and infantry: Refers more specifically to the horse and foot soldiers.

Related Idioms

• Binh hùng tướng mạnh: Strong soldiers and powerful generals; denotes a powerful and well-led army.
  • Với binh hùng tướng mạnh, họ đã giành chiến thắng. (With strong soldiers and powerful generals, they achieved victory.)

1. Troops and horses, military force