Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brave and strong general: "Hổ tướng" refers to a military commander who is exceptionally courageous, fierce, and powerful, likened to a tiger (hổ). This term is often used in historical or literary contexts to describe legendary or highly respected generals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trần Hưng Đạo là một vị hổ tướng của dân tộc Việt Nam. (Trần Hưng Đạo was a brave and strong general of the Vietnamese nation.)
  • Câu chuyện kể về vị hổ tướng đã một mình chống lại cả đội quân. (The story tells of the brave general who single-handedly fought against an entire army.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hổ tướng" is primarily a literary and historical term. In modern Vietnamese, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in historical novels, films, or when praising someone's exceptional leadership and bravery in a metaphorical, elevated style.
  • Ông ấy được mệnh danh là hổ tướng của ngành công nghiệp. (He is hailed as the tiger-general of the industry.) Note: This is a metaphorical, modern extension of the term.

Variants and Related Words

• Dũng tướng (noun): A brave general. This is a close synonym but may not carry the same connotation of raw, tiger-like fierceness as "hổ tướng."
• Hùm thiêng (noun): Sacred tiger; a poetic term sometimes used similarly to refer to a revered and fierce warrior or leader.

Synonyms

• Dũng tướng: Brave general.
• Danh tướng: Famous general.
• Lão tướng: Veteran general (emphasizes experience).

Related Phrases

• Tướng hổ, binh hùng: (Idiomatic) "Generals like tigers, soldiers like heroes." This phrase describes an army with exceptionally brave leaders and troops.
  • Đội quân ấy thật đúng là tướng hổ, binh hùng. (That army truly has generals like tigers and soldiers like heroes.)

Related Idioms

• Hổ tướng xuất chinh: (Idiomatic) "The tiger-general goes to war." This evokes an image of a mighty general leading troops into battle.
  • Khí thế của vị hổ tướng xuất chinh khiến quân địch khiếp sợ. (The momentum of the tiger-general going to war frightened the enemy troops.)

1. Brave and strong general