Definition

1. Noun:
   • Sister-in-law (elder brother's wife): Refers specifically to the wife of one's elder brother.
   • Elder brother's wife: A term of address and reference for the woman married to one's older brother.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Chị dâu tôi rất tốt bụng. (My sister-in-law is very kind.)
  • Anh trai tôi và chị dâu sẽ về thăm vào tuần tới. (My elder brother and his wife will visit next week.)
  • Tôi có hai chị dâu. (I have two sisters-in-law [wives of my elder brothers].)

Advanced Usage

• Term of Address: "Chị dâu" is commonly used as a direct, respectful term of address for one's elder brother's wife, similar to using her name.
  • Chị dâu ơi, chị giúp em với. (Sister-in-law, can you help me?)
• In Family Context: It denotes a specific familial relationship and carries connotations of respect due to the wife of an elder sibling.

Variants and Related Words

• Em dâu (n): Sister-in-law (younger brother's wife).
• Anh rể (n): Brother-in-law (elder sister's husband).
• Em rể (n): Brother-in-law (younger sister's husband).
• Con dâu (n): Daughter-in-law.

Synonyms

• Vợ của anh trai: Wife of (my) elder brother. (A descriptive phrase, not a single-word synonym).

Notes on Meaning

• Specificity: "Chị dâu" is precise. It is not a general term for any sister-in-law (e.g., wife of a husband's brother would be a different term like "chị/em chồng").
• Cultural Note: The term inherently acknowledges the age hierarchy within the family, as "chị" indicates an elder female relation by marriage.