Definition

1. Noun (Historical Title):
   • King's special envoy: An official title in historical Vietnamese monarchies, denoting a high-ranking mandarin or officer personally dispatched by the king to perform a specific, important mission or to govern a region with the king's delegated authority.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhà vua cử một vị khâm sai đi trấn áp cuộc nổi loạn. (The king sent a special envoy to suppress the rebellion.)
  • Chức vụ khâm sai mang theo uy quyền đặc biệt của hoàng đế. (The position of special envoy carried the special authority of the emperor.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in historical contexts, referring to the feudal administrative system of Vietnam before the 20th century.
• It implies a direct, trusted mandate from the sovereign, often involving inspection, pacification, or extraordinary governance.

Variants and Related Words

• Khâm sai đại thần (n): A more formal and high-ranking title for a special envoy or imperial commissioner.
  • Khâm sai đại thần được trao toàn quyền quyết định. (The imperial commissioner was granted full decision-making power.)

Synonyms

• Imperial commissioner: An official entrusted with supreme authority in a specific matter by the emperor.
• Special envoy: A person sent on a special diplomatic or administrative mission.
• Royal delegate: A representative appointed by the king.

Related Idioms

• Mang cờ khâm sai: To act under the king's direct orders; to have supreme, delegated authority.
  • Ông ta đến với tư cách mang cờ khâm sai của triều đình. (He came bearing the authority of the court's special mandate.)

1. King's special envoy