Definition

1. Noun (Historical):

   • Actor: A man who performs in traditional Vietnamese operatic theater forms such as tuồng or chèo.
   • Accompanist: A male musician who plays an instrument to accompany a female singer, historically in certain performance contexts.

2. Adjective:

   • Double / Lined: Describes an item made with two layers, such as a lined jacket.
   • Compound / Composite: Describes something composed of two or more parts, such as a compound leaf or a compound word.
   • Dual / Paired: Indicates the presence of two of something or a pair.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Ông ấy từng là một kép hát nổi tiếng. (He was once a famous actor.)
  • Cô đào hát cùng với người kép đàn. (The female singer performed with her male accompanist.)

• Adjective:

  • Trời lạnh, tôi mặc một chiếc áo kép. (It's cold, I'm wearing a lined jacket.)
  • "Áo dài" là một từ kép trong tiếng Việt. ("Áo dài" is a compound word in Vietnamese.)
  • Cây này có lá kép. (This plant has compound leaves.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tú kép" (Historical): Refers to a scholar who passed the provincial exams () twice in the old Confucian examination system.
  • Cụ đồ là một tú kép được dân làng kính trọng. (The old scholar was a twice-passed graduate respected by the village.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kép đàn (n): Specifically refers to the male accompanist who plays a string instrument.
• Kép hát (n): Specifically refers to the male actor or singer in traditional theater.
• Áo kép (n): A lined jacket or coat.
• Từ kép (n): A compound word.
• Lá kép (n): A compound leaf.

Synonyms

• Actor: performer, player (for ).
• Accompanist: instrumentalist, player (for ).
• Double: lined, two-ply (for clothing).
• Compound: composite, complex (for words, leaves).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Gió kép mưa đơn: Literally "double wind, single rain"; figuratively describes the harshness and rigors of the weather or a difficult situation.
  • Cuộc sống nơi biên giới chịu cảnh gió kép mưa đơn. (Life on the frontier endures all kinds of harsh weather and hardships.)
• Thiệt đơn thua kép: To suffer all kinds of disadvantages or losses, to lose on all fronts.
  • Công ty đó làm ăn thua lỗ, thiệt đơn thua kép. (That company is operating at a loss, suffering disadvantages on all sides.)

noun

1. (cũ) Actor, singsong girl's accompanist