Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young unmarried woman from a noble or aristocratic family in feudal times: "khuê nữ" refers to a damsel or maiden of high social standing, specifically within the feudal class structure. The term is now considered archaic and is primarily used in literary contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong truyện cổ, hình ảnh khuê nữ thường gắn liền với sự đoan trang, kín đáo. (In ancient tales, the image of a khuê nữ is often associated with grace and demureness.)
  • Bức tranh mô tả một khuê nữ đang đọc sách trong vườn. (The painting depicts a khuê nữ reading a book in the garden.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "khuê nữ" is almost exclusively used in historical, poetic, or literary works to evoke a sense of antiquity, nobility, and traditional femininity. It is not used in modern, everyday conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Khuê các (n): The women's quarters or inner chambers in a noble household; often used metaphorically to refer to the secluded life of unmarried daughters in feudal times.
• Thục nữ (n): A gentle, virtuous woman; a term with a similar classical and literary flavor but with a slightly broader application than the strict nobility implied by "khuê nữ".

Synonyms

• Tiểu thư (n): Young lady; a term for a daughter of a wealthy or noble family, less archaic than "khuê nữ" but still formal.
• Quận chúa (n): Princess (of a prefectural rank in feudal times); denotes a specific high noble rank.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Khuê phòng (n): A lady's bedchamber or private room; part of the "khuê các".
  • Nàng trở về khuê phòng của mình. (She returned to her private chamber.)
• Khuê môn (n): The gate to the women's quarters; symbolizes the seclusion and privacy of women in traditional aristocratic homes.

1. (cũ,văn chương) Damsel (of a feudat high family)