chuông vạn, ngựa nghìn
Definition
- Noun Phrase (Idiomatic):
- "Ten thousand bells, a thousand horses": A classical Vietnamese idiom describing a scene of extreme wealth, luxury, and noble status, evoking images of vast possessions and a grand, imposing retinue.
Usage Examples
- Noun Phrase:
- Giấc mơ chuông vạn, ngựa nghìn của hắn cuối cùng cũng thành hiện thực. (His dream of "ten thousand bells, a thousand horses" finally came true.)
- Cảnh tượng lễ đăng quang với chuông vạn, ngựa nghìn thật ngoạn mục. (The coronation scene, with its "ten thousand bells, a thousand horses," was truly spectacular.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is primarily used in literary, historical, or formal contexts to depict opulence, often of royalty or the ultra-wealthy in ancient times. It is not used in everyday modern conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- "muôn vựa thóc, nghìn cỗ xe": This is a direct explanatory phrase meaning "ten thousand granaries, a thousand chariots," which clarifies the idiom's core meaning of immense material wealth and is sometimes used alongside it.
Synonyms
- Extreme opulence: Great wealth and luxurious living.
- Regal splendor: The magnificent and impressive display associated with royalty.
- Vast riches: An enormous amount of wealth and possessions.
Related Idioms
- "Nhà cao cửa rộng": (A tall house with wide gates) – Meaning a very large and luxurious house, indicating wealth.
- "Ăn trên ngồi trốc": (To eat above and sit at the top) – Meaning to be in a very high, powerful, and privileged position.