chị dâu
Definition
- 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.