chính cung
Definition
- Noun (Historical):
- Principal palace: The main or primary residence of a queen or empress within an imperial or royal compound.
- Principal wife / Queen consort: The official, highest-ranking wife of a king or emperor, often residing in the principal palace.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Bà ấy từng sống ở chính cung. (She once lived in the principal palace.)
- Chính cung của triều Nguyễn là một kiến trúc đồ sộ. (The principal palace of the Nguyen dynasty was a massive structure.)
- Vị hoàng hậu đó là chính cung của nhà vua. (That empress was the king's principal wife.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal contexts to describe the institutions of feudal monarchies. It is not used in modern contexts for contemporary relationships or buildings.
Variants and Related Words
- Hoàng hậu (n): Empress, queen consort. A more common term for the principal wife.
- Trung cung (n): Often used synonymously with "chính cung" to mean the main palace or the principal wife's residence.
- Cung điện (n): Palace in a general sense.
Synonyms
- Principal wife
- Queen consort
- Main palace (of the queen)
Related Concepts
- Hậu cung: The inner palace or harem, referring to the quarters for all the royal consorts and concubines, distinct from the single "chính cung."
- Đông cung: The crown prince's residence, often translated as "Eastern Palace."