Definition

1. Noun:
   • Consort of a king: In the historical context of feudal monarchies, "hậu phi" refers to a woman who is officially married to a king or emperor, holding a high-ranking position in the royal harem.
   • Royal wife: The term specifically denotes the principal wife or a high-ranking wife of a monarch, distinct from concubines.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các hậu phi trong cung thường có cuộc sống xa hoa nhưng cũng nhiều quy tắc nghiêm ngặt. (The royal consorts in the palace often lived a luxurious life but with many strict rules.)
  • Bà ấy từng là một hậu phi nổi tiếng trong triều đại nhà Nguyễn. (She was once a famous royal consort during the Nguyễn dynasty.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "hậu phi" is almost exclusively used in historical or literary contexts to discuss feudal Vietnamese or other East Asian monarchies. It is not used in modern contexts.
• It can sometimes be used metaphorically in literature to imply a woman in a position of great privilege but also constraint.

Variants and Related Words

• Hoàng hậu (n): Empress/Queen. This is a more specific and often higher-ranking title than "hậu phi," typically referring to the primary wife of the emperor.
• Phi tần (n): Concubines; a general term for the emperor's secondary wives and consorts of various ranks.
• Cung tần (n): Palace consort; another term for women in the royal harem.

Synonyms

• Vương phi (n): King's consort; a near-synonym, also archaic.
• Chính thất của vua (n): The king's principal wife (a descriptive phrase).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Cuộc sống hậu phi: The life of a royal consort. Often used to describe a secluded or opulent lifestyle.
  • Câu chuyện kể về cuộc sống hậu phi đầy những âm mưu. (The story tells of the royal consort's life full of intrigues.)
• Hậu cung: The royal harem; the part of the palace where the consorts and concubines resided.
  • Những câu chuyện về hậu cung luôn thu hút độc giả. (Stories about the royal harem always attract readers.)

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) Wife of the king