Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young man who died unmarried: This term specifically refers to a male who passed away before marrying and having children. It carries an archaic and formal tone, often found in traditional or literary contexts.
   • A bachelor spirit (in folk belief): In some Vietnamese folk beliefs, the spirit of such an unmarried deceased man is considered restless or potent.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Theo phong tục cũ, mãnh thường được cúng riêng. (According to old customs, a young man who died unmarried is often worshipped separately.)
  • Trong truyện dân gian, oan hồn của một mãnh có thể quấy nhiễu làng. (In folk tales, the vengeful spirit of a bachelor who died young can haunt a village.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in historical, anthropological, or superstitious contexts. It is not used in modern, everyday conversation to refer to a living single man.

Variants and Related Words

• Mãnh hổ (n): This is a completely different compound word meaning "ferocious tiger." It does not relate to the meaning of the isolated word mãnh.
• Cô hồn (n): "Wandering ghost," a more general term for restless spirits, which may include the spirit of a mãnh.

Synonyms

• Unmarried deceased youth: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Bachelor spirit: Specifically in the context of folk belief.

Related Cultural Concepts

• Thờ cúng: The practice of ancestor worship. A mãnh, having no direct descendants, might be worshipped differently or be considered a "wandering" spirit requiring communal care.
• Cô đơn: Meaning "lonely." The state of a mãnh is often culturally perceived as one of loneliness in the afterlife.