con hầu

con hầu

Trong câu chuyện cổ tích, cô gái nghèo phải đi làm con hầu cho một gia đình quý tộc.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A female servant, maid: Historically refers to a young woman or girl employed for domestic service, often in a household of higher social standing. This term is now considered archaic and carries connotations of a bygone social structure.
    • A handmaid, attendant: Can imply a personal female attendant serving a lady or a figure of importance.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Trong câu chuyện cổ tích, cô gái nghèo phải đi làm con hầu cho một gia đình quý tộc. (In the fairy tale, the poor girl had to work as a maid for a noble family.)
    • Vai diễn con hầu trung thành là một phần quan trọng trong vở kịch. (The role of the loyal handmaid is an important part of the play.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term 'con hầu' is primarily found in historical, literary, or folk contexts. Using it in modern conversation to refer to a domestic helper would be anachronistic and potentially offensive, as modern terms like 'người giúp việc' (domestic helper) or 'osin' (from the Japanese 'oshin') are neutral and contemporary.
  • It can be used metaphorically in literature to describe subservience or devotion.
    • Anh ấy sẵn sàng làm con hầu cho những ham muốn của chính mình. (He is willing to be a servant to his own desires.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Hầu gái (n): A synonym for 'con hầu', also archaic, specifically meaning a female servant.
  • Người hầu (n): A more general, gender-neutral term for 'servant', also leaning towards archaic usage.
  • Đầy tớ (n): A servant, menial. This term is stronger and can imply a lower social status than 'người hầu'.
  • Osin (n): A modern, colloquial term for a live-in domestic helper, borrowed from Japanese media.
Synonyms
  • Người giúp việc: Domestic helper (modern, neutral).
  • Người ở: Live-in servant (somewhat dated but still understood).
Related Phrases
  • Hầu hạ (verb): To serve, to attend to (someone). This is the verbal form related to 'con hầu'.
    • Cô ấy hầu hạ bà chủ rất chu đáo. (She attends to her mistress very meticulously.)
Related Idioms
  • Làm thân con hầu: To live the life of a servant; to be in a position of servitude.
    • Suốt đời ông ấy làm thân con hầu cho chủ đất. (All his life, he lived the life of a servant for the landlord.)