Definition

1. Noun (Classical; Literary):
   • Male whale and female whale: Refers specifically to a male whale ("kình") and a female whale ("nghê"). In classical literature, these large, powerful sea creatures are often used metaphorically.
   • Brave and strong soldier: A metaphorical meaning derived from the power of the whales, used to describe a valiant and formidable warrior.
   • Fierce rebels or formidable adversaries: Another metaphorical extension, referring to fierce, rebellious forces or powerful, threatening opponents.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong thơ cổ, quân địch hung hãn thường được ví với loài kình nghê. (In ancient poetry, fierce enemy troops were often compared to kình nghê.)
  • Vị tướng ấy ra trận oai phong như một con kình nghê. (That general went into battle as majestic as a kình nghê.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively found in classical Vietnamese poetry and historical texts. Its usage in modern Vietnamese is very rare and would be considered highly literary or archaic.
• It often appears in contexts describing epic battles, great turmoil, or formidable natural forces.

Variants and Related Words

• Kình ngạc (n): A more common synonymous term in classical literature, also meaning whale or sea monster, used metaphorically for formidable foes.
  • Sóng biển cuồn cuộn như có kình ngạc. (The sea waves rolled fiercely as if there were kình ngạc.)

Synonyms

• Leviathan: A biblical sea monster, used metaphorically for something very large and powerful.
• Behemoth: A huge and powerful creature or thing.
• Formidable foe: A very intimidating enemy.

Related Idioms

• Cá lớn nuốt cá bé: Literally "big fish eat small fish"; an idiom about the strong dominating the weak, thematically related to the predatory nature ascribed to the kình nghê.
  • Thương trường khắc nghiệt theo luật cá lớn nuốt cá bé. (The business world is harsh, following the law of the big fish eating the small fish.)

1. (cũ; văn chương)Male whale and female whale; brave and strong soldier; fierce rebels