Definition

1. Noun:

   • Patriarch: The male head of a family or household, traditionally holding primary authority and responsibility.
   • Paterfamilias: A term, often used in historical or sociological contexts, referring to the father figure who holds legal authority over the family.

2. Adjective:

   • Patriarchal: Describing attitudes, behaviors, or systems where men hold primary power and authority, often in an autocratic manner.
   • Authoritarian (in attitude): Characteristic of a person, especially a man in a position of authority, who acts in an overly domineering, controlling, and undemocratic way.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Ông ấy là gia trưởng của một đại gia đình. (He is the patriarch of a large family.)
  • Chế độ gia trưởng đã phổ biến trong lịch sử. (The patriarchal system was prevalent in history.)

• Adjective:

  • Anh ta có tính cách rất gia trưởng. (He has a very patriarchal/authoritarian personality.)
  • Lối quản lý gia trưởng đó không còn phù hợp. (That patriarchal management style is no longer suitable.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used critically in modern contexts to describe outdated, oppressive, and undemocratic attitudes, particularly of men who impose their will on family members or subordinates.
  • Bị chỉ trích vì tư tưởng gia trưởng. (Criticized for having patriarchal ideologies.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chế độ gia trưởng (n): Patriarchy (the social system).

  • Xã hội đó đấu tranh để xóa bỏ chế độ gia trưởng. (That society is struggling to abolish patriarchy.)

• Tính gia trưởng (n): Patriarchal/authoritarian nature or attitude.

  • Tính gia trưởng của anh ấy gây ra nhiều mâu thuẫn. (His authoritarian nature causes many conflicts.)

Synonyms

• Authoritarian: Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• Domineering: Asserting one's will over another in an arrogant way.
• Patriarchal: Relating to or characteristic of a patriarch.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Thói gia trưởng: The bad habit of being domineering and authoritarian.

  • Anh ấy cần bỏ thói gia trưởng đi. (He needs to drop his domineering habit.)

• Lối suy nghĩ gia trưởng: Patriarchal way of thinking.

  • Lối suy nghĩ gia trưởng đang cản trở sự bình đẳng. (The patriarchal way of thinking is hindering equality.)