dung hạnh
Definition
- Noun (Archaic):
- Grace and virtuous conduct (of a woman): A classical term referring to the traditional Confucian feminine virtues of grace, good manners, and moral behavior. It denotes a combination of elegant demeanor and virtuous actions.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Người phụ nữ ấy được khen ngợi vì có dung hạnh. (That woman is praised for her grace and virtuous conduct.)
- Dung hạnh là một tiêu chuẩn quan trọng đối với phụ nữ trong xã hội xưa. (Grace and virtuous conduct were an important standard for women in ancient society.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily found in historical, literary, or formal contexts discussing traditional values and is rarely used in modern conversational Vietnamese.
Variants and Related Words
- Đức hạnh (n): virtue, moral integrity (a more common, gender-neutral term for virtuous character).
- Công dung ngôn hạnh (idiomatic phrase): a classical Confucian standard for women encompassing four virtues: housework skills (công), appearance (dung), speech (ngôn), and moral conduct (hạnh).
Synonyms
- Virtue: moral excellence and righteousness.
- Propriety: conformity to established standards of behavior.
- Decorum: behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety.
Related Idioms
- Công dung ngôn hạnh: The "Four Virtues" for women (skills, appearance, speech, morality).
- Giáo lý "công dung ngôn hạnh" ảnh hưởng sâu sắc đến quan niệm xưa. (The doctrine of the "Four Virtues" deeply influenced old-fashioned notions.)