Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Noble, aristocratic, high-class: Refers to a person, position, or lifestyle that is of high social rank, distinguished, and characterized by elegance and refinement.
   • Sumptuous, luxurious, opulent: Describes something that is extremely rich, splendid, and indicative of great wealth and high status.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Gia đình ấy có địa vị rất cao sang trong xã hội. (That family holds a very noble position in society.)
  • Cô ấy có phong cách sống cao sang và thanh lịch. (She has an opulent and elegant lifestyle.)
  • Cung điện được trang trí một cách cao sang. (The palace was decorated in a sumptuous manner.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cao sang quyền quý": A common four-word idiom meaning "noble and aristocratic," emphasizing both high status and powerful lineage.

  • Họ xuất thân từ một dòng họ cao sang quyền quý. (They come from a noble and aristocratic lineage.)

• "Vẻ cao sang": Refers to a noble or luxurious appearance/aesthetic.

  • Chiếc váy dạ hội toát lên vẻ cao sang. (The evening gown exudes a luxurious look.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sang trọng (adj): Luxurious, classy, upscale. Often used interchangeably with "cao sang" but can sometimes focus more on material elegance than hereditary rank.

  • Khách sạn năm sao rất sang trọng. (The five-star hotel is very luxurious.)

• Quý tộc (n): Aristocracy, nobility. Refers specifically to the noble class.

  • Tầng lớp quý tộc thời phong kiến. (The aristocracy in feudal times.)

Synonyms

• Quý phái: Noble, distinguished (often implies innate elegance).
• Đài các: Stately, dignified (often used for women's graceful bearing).

Related Idioms

• "Chó chê mèo mửa": Literally "dogs despise it, cats vomit it." This idiom is sometimes used sarcastically or humorously to mock something that pretends to be "cao sang" but is actually distasteful or overly pretentious.
  • Đồ giả cầy mà bày vẻ cao sang, đúng là chó chê mèo mửa. (Fake goods putting on airs of luxury, it's truly despised by all.)

Notes on Meaning

• "Cao sang" often combines two ideas: high social rank ("cao") and a luxurious, refined manner ("sang"). It is used to describe both people (their status or demeanor) and things (their quality or appearance).
• It carries a positive connotation of esteem and admiration but can sometimes be used in a neutral or slightly critical context to highlight social disparity or excessive opulence.

1. Of rank and fashion, high in rank and living
   • địa vị cao sang
     a position high in rank and living