ca kĩ

Trong vở tuồng cổ, một ca kĩ xuất hiện và hát một bài buồn.

Definition

1. Noun (Historical):
   • A female singer or songstress: Specifically refers to a woman who sings, often in a traditional or performance context. The term carries an archaic or historical nuance.
   • A courtesan or entertainer: In some historical contexts, the term could imply a woman who performed as a singer and entertainer, sometimes with connotations similar to a geisha or a diva in certain social settings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong vở tuồng cổ, một ca kĩ xuất hiện và hát một bài buồn. (In the ancient opera, a female singer appeared and sang a sorrowful song.)
  • Vào thế kỷ 19, những ca kĩ thường biểu diễn trong các phòng trà. (In the 19th century, female entertainers often performed in tea houses.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "ca kĩ" is rarely used in modern Vietnamese and is primarily found in historical, literary, or theatrical contexts. It evokes a specific image of pre-modern female performers.

Variants and Related Words

• Ca nương (n): A more modern, sometimes poetic, term for a female singer, often used in contemporary contexts like traditional music (ca trù, chầu văn).
• Ca sĩ (n): The standard modern word for a singer (male or female).
• Đào nương (n): A historical term for a female actress/singer in traditional Vietnamese theatre (like tuồng or chèo).

Synonyms

• Songstress: A female singer.
• Chanteuse: A female singer, especially in French or theatrical contexts.
• Entertainer: A performer, especially in historical settings.

Notes on Usage

• "Ca kĩ" is an archaic term. Using it in contemporary conversation would sound literary or deliberately old-fashioned. The modern equivalent for a professional singer is "ca sĩ".