Definition

1. Noun:
   • Adoptive mother: A woman who legally and socially raises and cares for a child who is not her biological offspring. This term is now considered archaic or literary in modern Vietnamese.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bà ấy là dưỡng mẫu của cô bé. (She is the adoptive mother of the little girl.)
  • Trong câu chuyện, nhân vật chính luôn nhớ ơn dưỡng mẫu của mình. (In the story, the main character is always grateful to his adoptive mother.)

Advanced Usage

• The term dưỡng mẫu is primarily found in historical, literary, or formal contexts. In contemporary everyday language, the more common and neutral terms are mẹ nuôi or mẹ đỡ đầu (godmother, but can be used contextually for adoptive mother).

Variants and Related Words

• Dưỡng phụ (noun, archaic): Adoptive father.
• Dưỡng tử (noun, archaic): Adopted son.
• Dưỡng nữ (noun, archaic): Adopted daughter.
• Con nuôi (noun): Adopted child.
• Nhận làm con nuôi (verb phrase): To adopt (a child).

Synonyms

• Mẹ nuôi (noun): Foster mother / Adoptive mother (modern, common term).
• Mẹ đỡ đầu (noun): Godmother (can sometimes imply a caring, guardian role similar to an adoptive mother).

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning of dưỡng mẫu is specifically "adoptive mother." It does not mean stepmother (mẹ kế) or biological mother (mẹ đẻ). The word dưỡng implies the act of nurturing and raising.

1. (cũ) Adoptive mother