Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ancient military officers' tiger-head-shaped seal (insignia): "Hổ phù" refers to a type of seal or official insignia, often shaped like a tiger's head, used by military officers in ancient Vietnam.
   • Tiger-faced design: "Hổ phù" also denotes a decorative motif or pattern featuring a tiger's face, commonly used in embroidery, carving, or bas-relief.
   • (Colloquial) Face bloated with anger: In informal speech, "hổ phù" can be used metaphorically to describe someone's face that is swollen or contorted with anger.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Chiếc ấn hổ phù là biểu tượng quyền lực của vị tướng. (The "hổ phù" seal was a symbol of the general's authority.)
  • Trên áo bào của ông ta có thêu hình hổ phù rất tinh xảo. (His ceremonial robe was embroidered with an exquisite "hổ phù" tiger-face design.)
  • Đừng có giận mà mặt hổ phù lên thế! (Don't be so angry that your face is all puffed up!)

Advanced Usage

• "Mặt hổ phù": This phrase directly uses the colloquial meaning to emphasize an angry, swollen face.
  • Sau trận cãi nhau, anh ta bước ra với bộ mặt hổ phù. (After the argument, he walked out with a face bloated with anger.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hổ (noun): Tiger. This is the root word for "tiger" in "hổ phù".
• Phù (noun): In this context, it refers to a seal, tally, or insignia. It can also mean a charm or talisman in other compounds.

Synonyms

• Ấn tín (noun): Seal, stamp (more general term for an official seal).
• Mặt hổ (noun phrase): Tiger face (describes the design, not the official object).
• Mặt cáu (colloquial adjective phrase): Angry face (for the colloquial meaning).

Related Idioms

• Nổi cơn thịnh nộ (verb phrase): To fly into a rage. This describes the action, while "mặt hổ phù" describes the physical result.
  • Ông ấy nổi cơn thịnh nộ, mặt đỏ bừng lên. (He flew into a rage, his face turning red.)

1. Ancient military officers' tigerhead-shaped seal (insigniạ..)
2. Tiger-faced design
   • áo thêu hổ phù
     A robe embroidered with a tiger-faced design.
3. (b) (thông tục) Face bloated with anger