Definition

1. Noun:

   • Influence or prestige deriving from high position or power: Refers to social or political clout, authority, or standing that commands respect.
   • Great size, magnitude, or imposing scale: Refers to the large physical dimensions or grand appearance of something.

2. Adjective:

   • Influential or prestigious: Describing a person, family, or entity that holds significant power or social standing.
   • Sizeable, imposing, or grand: Describing something that is large in scale, substantial, or impressive in appearance.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Influence):
  • Lớp người có bề thế trong xã hội cũ. (The influential class in the old society.)
• Noun (Scale):
  • Bề thế rộng lớn của nông trường. (The vast scale of the farm.)
• Adjective (Influential):
  • Gia đình có bề thế. (A prestigious/influential family.)
• Adjective (Grand):
  • Ngôi nhà bề thế. (A large, imposing house.)
  • Đứng xa trông cơ ngơi rất bề thế. (From a distance, the estate looks very grand.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a combination of visible substance (size, wealth) and intangible power (status, authority). It can describe both concrete physical presence and abstract social force.
• When used for people or institutions, it frequently carries a connotation of established, traditional, or institutionalized power rather than temporary influence.

Variants and Related Words

• Thế lực (n): force, power, influence. Often used similarly for abstract power but less for physical scale.
• Uy thế (n): prestige, authoritative influence.
• Đồ sộ (adj): massive, colossal. Primarily describes physical size, similar to the 'scale' aspect of .

Synonyms

• Influence: the capacity to have an effect on people or events.
• Prestige: widespread respect and admiration stemming from achievements or quality.
• Imposing: grand and impressive in appearance.
• Substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Có bề thế: To be influential; to have prestige and standing.
  • Họ là một dòng họ có bề thế trong vùng. (They are a lineage with prestige in the region.)
• The word itself can function almost idiomatically to convey a sense of established, formidable presence, whether social or physical.

noun

1. Influence (deriving from a high position)
   • lớp người có bề thế trong xã hội
     the influential section in the old society, the people with a long arm in the old society, the persons of rank and fashion in the old society
2. Great size, magnitude, great dimensions
   • bề thế rộng lớn của nông trường
     the great size of the farm

adj

1. Influential
2. Sizeable
   • ngôi nhà bề thế
     a large house
   • đứng xa trông cơ ngơi rất bề thế
     from a distance, the estate's proportions look sizeable