công tử bột
Definition
- Noun:
- A pampered, effeminate, or foppish young man from a wealthy family: The term describes a son of a rich family who is overly concerned with his appearance and leisurely pursuits, often perceived as weak, spoiled, or lacking in substance and masculine vigor. It carries a connotation of ridicule or mild contempt.
- A dandy; a fop: A man who is excessively devoted to style, fashion, and his own appearance, often in an affected manner.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ta chẳng làm được việc gì, đúng là một công tử bột. (He can't do any real work; he's just a pampered fop.)
- Lối sống của những công tử bột đó thật lãng phí. (The lifestyle of those dandies is so wasteful.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in literary and social commentary to critique a certain idle, privileged class in historical or modern contexts.
- Nhân vật đó trong tiểu thuyết được miêu tả như một công tử bột thời thượng. (That character in the novel is portrayed as a fashionable dandy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Công tử (n): A young master; a son from a wealthy, aristocratic family. This is the root term without the negative connotation of weakness.
- Công tử nhà họ Lý vừa từ nước ngoài trở về. (The young master of the Ly family has just returned from abroad.)
Synonyms
- Dandy: A man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.
- Fop: A man who is vain about his dress and appearance.
- Popinjay: A vain or talkative person who dresses showily.
- Playboy: A wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who is not interested in serious relationships.
Related Idioms
- While not a strict idiom, the phrase "công tử bột" itself functions as a fixed cultural expression to denote a specific, criticized type of personality.
- The term can be implied in expressions about a life of idle luxury, such as "sống cuộc đời công tử" (to live the life of a pampered young master).