Definition

1. Noun:
   • Shield: A piece of defensive equipment, typically held in the hand or on the arm, used in ancient times to block weapons like spears, arrows, swords, etc.
   • Shield (in heraldry or symbolism): A representation of a shield used in coats of arms, logos, or emblems.
   • Shield (in geology/geography): A large, stable area of exposed Precambrian crystalline rock (e.g., Canadian Shield). This is a specialized scientific term.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người lính cầm khiên để bảo vệ mình. (The soldier held a shield to protect himself.)
  • Huy hiệu của gia đình có hình một chiếc khiên. (The family crest features a shield.)
  • Khiên Canada là một vùng địa chất rộng lớn. (The Canadian Shield is a vast geological region.)

Advanced Usage

• "khiên che đỡ": metaphorical shield, protection.
  • Lòng nhân từ là khiên che đỡ trước sự phán xét. (Compassion is a shield against judgment.)
• "mang tính chất khiên" (peltate): In botany, describing a leaf where the stalk is attached to the center of the lower surface. This is a highly specialized term.

Variants and Related Words

• Thuẫn: A synonym for "khiên," also meaning shield. Often used in compound words or classical contexts.
• Khiên chắn: A compound word emphasizing the blocking/defensive function (shield, barrier).
• Khiên nhiệt: Heat shield (a specialized modern compound term).

Synonyms

• Lá chắn: Shield, barrier (can be both literal and figurative).
• Vật bảo vệ: Protective object.
• Mộc: An older, literary term for a wooden shield.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "khiên" is a noun, it does not have phrasal verbs. However, it is commonly used in verb phrases. - Cầm khiên: To hold/carry a shield. - Dùng khiên: To use a shield. - Che chắn bằng khiên: To shield/protect with a shield.

Related Idioms

• "Lấy nhu thắng cương, lấy yếu chống mạnh": (Using softness to overcome hardness, using weakness to resist strength). This strategic concept is often associated with the defensive, yielding nature of using a shield.
• "Khiên và kiếm" (Shield and sword): Represents the concepts of defense and offense, or a complete set of tools/strategies.

1. Shield (used in the old times against spears, arrows...)