Definition

Noun: 1. A young girl; a girl under age: Refers to a female who has just reached puberty or is in her early teenage years, emphasizing youth and often implying innocence or lack of sexual experience. 2. A maiden; a virgin: In traditional contexts, specifically denotes a young woman who has not yet had sexual relations with a man.

Usage Examples

• (She is just a young girl, not yet understanding the ways of the world.)
• (There are many beautiful young maidens in the village.)
• (The story tells the fate of a young, innocent girl who was tricked and sold.)

Advanced Usage & Nuances

• The term gái tơ carries a strong connotation of youth, tenderness, and inexperience. It is often used in literary, poetic, or somewhat old-fashioned contexts.
• It can imply vulnerability and innocence, sometimes in contrast to more experienced or worldly women.
• While the core meaning relates to age and virginity, in modern, less literal usage, it can simply emphasize someone's youthful naivety in a given situation, not strictly their sexual history.

Variants and Related Words

• Thiếu nữ (n): Maiden, young woman. A more general and neutral term for a young woman.
• Trinh nữ (n): Virgin. A more direct and clinical term focusing specifically on virginity.
• Gái chưa chồng (n phr): Unmarried woman. Focuses on marital status rather than age or experience.

Synonyms

• Young maiden
• Adolescent girl
• Ingénue (especially in artistic contexts)

Notes on Different Meanings

The primary meaning revolves around young age and innocence. The specific meaning of virgin is a traditional, contextual implication rather than a mandatory modern definition. The word's usage depends heavily on context.

Related Idioms

• Tuổi *gái tơ*: The age of a young maiden; one's youthful, maiden years.
  • Bà ấy vẫn giữ được nét đẹp từ thời tuổi gái tơ. (She has retained the beauty from her maiden years.)

noun

1. young girl; girl under age