cổng cái

Cổng cái của ngôi đình được sơn son thếp vàng.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Main gate, large gate: A large, principal, or ceremonial gate, often the primary entrance to a compound, temple, palace, or significant property. It implies a gate of substantial size and importance, distinct from smaller or secondary gates.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cổng cái của ngôi đình được sơn son thếp vàng. (The main gate of the communal house is painted in red lacquer and gilded with gold.)
  • Chúng tôi đứng đợi ở cổng cái của trường đại học. (We waited at the main gate of the university.)
  • Cổng cái làng được xây bằng gạch cổ. (The village's main gate is built with ancient bricks.)

Advanced Usage

• "cổng cái đình làng": the main gate of the village's communal house, a central architectural and cultural feature in traditional Vietnamese villages.
  • Cổng cái đình làng là nơi tổ chức nhiều nghi lễ quan trọng. (The main gate of the village communal house is where many important ceremonies are held.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cổng (noun): gate. A general term for any gate.

  • cổng trường (school gate), cổng sắt (iron gate).

• Cổng chính (noun): main gate. A synonym that explicitly states the gate's primary function.

  • Xin vui lòng vào bằng cổng chính. (Please enter through the main gate.)

• Công môn (noun, literary): main gate. A more formal or literary term.

Synonyms

• Cổng chính: main gate.
• Đại môn (formal/literary): great gate, main gate.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "cái" here does not function as the common classifier or the word for "mother." In this compound, it is a Sino-Vietnamese element (from 界 or similar roots implying "great" or "main") that denotes largeness, importance, or being the principal one. It is a fixed lexical item.
• "Cổng cái" specifically refers to a physical, architectural structure. It is not used metaphorically for other types of entrances or gateways (e.g., in computing, "gateway" is ).