Definition

1. Noun:
   • Peony: A type of beautiful flowering plant, often wild on hills or cultivated for ornamental purposes in temples and communal houses. It has smooth stems and branches, can grow up to 1 meter tall, with opposite, oval-shaped leaves that are glossy green on top. It produces small, long, red flowers that grow in dense clusters at the ends of branches. It is also known as "đơn đỏ" or "bông trang đỏ".
   • A beautiful flower: In some contexts, especially in literature or older texts, "mẫu đơn" can poetically refer to a beautiful flower in general, sometimes specifically alluding to the "Giao Tiên" flower.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong vườn chùa có trồng nhiều cây mẫu đơn. (Many peony plants are grown in the temple garden.)
  • Hoa mẫu đơn nở đỏ rực cả một góc sân. (The peony flowers bloomed brilliantly red, covering a corner of the yard.)
  • Thơ ca thường ví von vẻ đẹp của người thiếu nữ với hoa mẫu đơn. (Poetry often compares the beauty of a young woman to the peony flower.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Symbolism: In Vietnamese culture, the peony ("mẫu đơn") is often associated with beauty, prosperity, and good fortune. It is a common motif in art and literature.
• Botanical Context: When discussing plants, "mẫu đơn" specifically refers to the peony species (Paeonia). It's important to distinguish it from other red flowers with similar local names.

Variants and Related Words

• Đơn đỏ: Another name for the red peony ("mẫu đơn").
• Bông trang đỏ: A regional/common name for the red peony ("mẫu đơn").
• Hoa mẫu đơn: The full term for "peony flower".
• Cây mẫu đơn: Refers to the peony plant/tree.

Synonyms

• Pivoine: The French word for peony, used in some historical or botanical contexts in Vietnam.
• Hoa trang: A broader term for species, which can sometimes cause confusion, but "bông trang đỏ" is a direct synonym for the red peony.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most common meaning is the peony flower.
• The poetic or literary use to mean a generically beautiful flower is less common in modern everyday language but may appear in classic literature or set phrases.
• It is distinct from the homophone "mẫu đơn" meaning "application form" (which is a Sino-Vietnamese word: 模單). The floral "mẫu đơn" (牡丹) is a different word with different Chinese characters, though they sound identical. Context is crucial for differentiation.

noun

1. peony