Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ministry of War: In the feudal administrative system of Vietnam, this was a central government agency responsible for military affairs, national defense, and managing military officials.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy từng giữ chức Thượng thư tại binh bộ. (He once held the position of Minister at the Ministry of War.)
  • Công việc của binh bộ thời xưa rất quan trọng. (The work of the Ministry of War in the old days was very important.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is classified as archaic () and is primarily encountered in historical texts, literature, or when discussing Vietnam's feudal history (e.g., the Nguyễn dynasty's administrative structure). It is not used in modern contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Bộ Binh (n): This is a modern term meaning "Infantry" (a branch of the army). It is a completely different word and should not be confused with "binh bộ".
• Bộ Quốc phòng (n): The modern equivalent is the "Ministry of National Defense".

Synonyms

• Bộ Quốc phòng (n): Ministry of National Defense (modern equivalent).
• Nha quân sự (n): Military Department (a more general, historical term).

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically refers to one of the Lục Bộ (Six Ministries) in the classical Vietnamese bureaucratic system. Its functions encompassed managing military personnel, defense strategies, and related administrative duties.
• It is a compound noun where "binh" means "soldier/military" and "bộ" means "ministry/department".

1. (từ cũ, nghĩa cũ) Ministy of war