cung nga
Definition
- Noun:
- Palace maid: A female servant or attendant working within the royal palace or imperial harem in historical Vietnamese contexts.
- Court lady: A woman serving in the inner quarters of the royal court, often with specific duties.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong cung có hàng trăm cung nga phục vụ. (There are hundreds of palace maids serving in the royal palace.)
- Cuộc sống của một cung nga thời xưa rất nghiêm ngặt. (The life of a court lady in ancient times was very strict.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in historical or literary contexts to describe the social structure of feudal Vietnamese courts. It is not used in modern, everyday language.
Variants and Related Words
- Cung nữ (n): A very close synonym, also meaning "palace maid" or "court lady."
- Thị nữ (n): A lady-in-waiting; a female attendant serving a queen or princess, often of a slightly higher status than a general .
Synonyms
- Hầu gái trong cung: (Phrase) Maidservant in the palace.
- Người hầu cung đình: (Phrase) Palace attendant.
Notes on Meaning
- The term cung nga carries a strong historical connotation and is associated with the feudal system. It specifically refers to women of lower status within the palace hierarchy, not to consorts or concubines, who held different positions (e.g., , ).
- In some literary contexts, it can evoke imagery of beauty, youth, and a confined, regimented life within the palace walls.