Definition

1. Noun:
   • Close friend, intimate friend: "kim lan" is an archaic Vietnamese term used to refer to a very close, dear, or intimate friend. It describes a deep, loyal, and cherished friendship.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Họ từng là đôi bạn kim lan, chia ngọt sẻ bùi. (They were once close friends, sharing life's sweetness and bitterness.)
  • Tình bạn kim lan ấy thật đáng quý. (That intimate friendship is truly precious.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "kim lan" is primarily found in classical or literary Vietnamese contexts, such as poetry, ancient texts, or formal writing. It is rarely used in modern everyday conversation.
• It often conveys a sense of a noble, pure, and enduring bond, sometimes compared to the elegance and fragrance of the orchid (lan).

Variants and Related Words

• Bạn thân (n): close friend (modern, common equivalent).
• Tri kỷ (n): soulmate, confidant (a friend who deeply understands you).
• Bạn chí thân (n): very close friend.

Synonyms

• Bạn thân thiết: intimate friend.
• Bạn tri âm: a friend who shares your sentiments (often used in artistic contexts).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Nghĩa kim lan": the meaning/essence of a deep friendship.
  • Câu chuyện ca ngợi nghĩa kim lan giữa hai người bạn. (The story praises the deep friendship between the two friends.)
• While not a phrasal verb, the term is part of the fixed, classical phrase "bạn kim lan" (kim lan friend).

1. (cũ) close friend