Definition

1. Noun:
   • A go-between in love affairs; a matchmaker; a messenger of love: "chim xanh" refers to a person who acts as an intermediary to arrange meetings or carry messages between lovers, often in a secretive or romantic context. This meaning originates from an ancient Chinese legend.
   • A pimp; a procurer: In modern, more critical usage, "chim xanh" can refer to someone who facilitates sexual encounters for profit, i.e., a pimp or panderer.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong truyện cổ, chim xanh thường là sứ giả đem tin tình yêu. (In ancient tales, the "chim xanh" is often the messenger bringing news of love.)
  • Anh ta bị nghi ngờ là làm chim xanh cho nhóm tội phạm. (He is suspected of being a pimp for the criminal gang.)
  • "Cạn dòng lá thắm, dứt đường chim xanh" ý nói không còn cách nào để liên lạc. ("The stream of red leaves has dried up, the path of the blue bird is cut" means there is no way left to communicate.)

Advanced Usage

• "dứt đường chim xanh": to cut off the path of the messenger; to block all means of communication or contact, especially between lovers.
  • Gia đình cô ấy cấm cản, muốn dứt đường chim xanh giữa hai người. (Her family forbade it, wanting to cut off all paths for messengers between the two.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mối lái (n): broker, matchmaker (neutral, often for business or marriage).
• Người làm mối (n): matchmaker (general term).
• Sứ giả tình yêu (n): messenger of love (poetic).

Synonyms

• Matchmaker: người làm mối (focuses on arranging marriages or relationships).
• Go-between: người trung gian (general term for an intermediary).
• Pimp: ma cô, cá chậu chim lồng (modern, derogatory term for a procurer).

Related Idioms

• "Chim xanh đưa lối": The blue bird shows the way; meaning a fortunate sign or guide leading to a desired goal, especially in love.
  • Anh ấy gặp cô ấy như có chim xanh đưa lối. (Meeting her was like having a blue bird guide his way.)

1. Pimp, pander