Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ceremonial regalia of high-ranking mandarins: Refers specifically to the turban (cân) and belt (đai) that were essential components of the formal court attire worn by high-ranking officials (mandarins) in historical Vietnam.
   • (By extension) Court robes; official vestments: More broadly, it can refer to the complete set of formal ceremonial robes and regalia worn by mandarins, symbolizing their rank and authority.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các quan đại thần mặc cân đai chỉnh tề vào chầu vua. (The high-ranking mandarins wore their ceremonial regalia neatly to attend the royal court.)
  • Trong tranh cổ, vị quan thường được miêu tả với cân đai. (In ancient paintings, the mandarin is often depicted in his court robes.)
  • Cân đai là biểu tượng cho quyền lực và địa vị của một vị quan. (The ceremonial regalia was a symbol of a mandarin's power and status.)

Advanced Usage

• "Mặc cân đai": To wear ceremonial regalia/court robes.

  • Ông ấy mặc cân đai trong lễ tấn phong. (He wore his court robes during the inauguration ceremony.)

• "Cân đai áo mũ": A fixed phrase emphasizing the full ceremonial attire, including the headgear and robes.

  • Lễ lớn yêu cầu các quan phải cân đai áo mũ đầy đủ. (The grand ceremony required the mandarins to be in full ceremonial dress.)

Variants and Related Words

• Áo mũ cân đai (n): A set phrase meaning the complete official ceremonial costume.
• Quan phục (n): Official's robe; mandarin's uniform. (A more general term for official attire, which includes ).
• Triều phục (n): Court dress; attire for royal court audiences.

Synonyms

• Lễ phục: Ceremonial dress/attire. (A broader, more modern term).
• Phẩm phục: Official robes (indicating rank).

Notes on Meaning

• This is a historical and literary term. It is rarely used in modern, everyday contexts except when discussing history, traditional ceremonies, or in figurative language.
• The term is a compound word formed from cân (turban/headgear) and đai (belt/girdle), representing the key items of the regalia.
• It often carries a connotation of high rank, formality, and ancient tradition.

1. Turban and belt (of mandarins' court robes); court robes