Definition

1. Noun:
   • Village officials (in former times): "Chức dịch" refers to people who held administrative positions or duties in a Vietnamese village during the feudal or colonial era. They were local functionaries responsible for implementing orders from higher authorities and managing village affairs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhiều chức dịch trong làng là tay chân của địa chủ. (Many village officials were landlords' agents.)
  • Các chức dịch thời xưa có nhiệm vụ thu thuế và giữ gìn trật tự. (Village officials in the old days had the duty of collecting taxes and maintaining order.)
  • Chức dịch là một bộ phận trong bộ máy cai trị ở nông thôn Việt Nam thời phong kiến. (Village officials were a part of the governing apparatus in rural Vietnam during the feudal period.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is primarily used in historical or academic contexts to describe the pre-modern local governance system. It often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation, implying these officials were tools of the ruling class.
  • Vai trò của chức dịch thường bị người dân xem với ánh mắt nghi ngờ. (The role of village officials was often viewed with suspicion by the people.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chức sắc (noun): Refers to dignitaries or people of high rank, often in a religious or communal context. While related, "chức sắc" implies higher status and respect than "chức dịch".
• Lý trưởng (noun): A specific type of village chief or headman, who was often the most prominent "chức dịch".
• Hương chức (noun): A near-synonym, also referring to village officials and notables.

Synonyms

• Village authorities: Các nhà chức trách làng xã.
• Village functionaries: Các viên chức làng.
• Local officials: Các quan chức địa phương (historical context).

Related Phrases

• Làm chức dịch: To serve as a village official.
  • Ông cụ của tôi từng làm chức dịch dưới thời Pháp thuộc. (My grandfather once served as a village official under French rule.)

Related Idioms

• While there are no common idioms directly using "chức dịch", the concept is related to phrases about local power structures, such as:
  • Phép vua thua lệ làng: The king's law yields to village customs. This idiom highlights the traditional autonomy and power of village institutions, where "chức dịch" played a key role.

noun

1. Village officials (in former times)
   • nhiều chức dịch trong làng là tay chân của địa chủ
     many village officials were landlords' agents