mệ

mệ

Mệ ngồi trên ngai vàng trong cung điện.

Definition

  1. Noun (Historical):

    • Prince or Princess (child of a king): In the Nguyễn dynasty royal court, "mệ" was a term used to refer to the sons and daughters of the king.

  2. Noun (Dialectal):

    • Grandmother: In some Vietnamese dialects, particularly in the Central region, "mệ" is used as a familiar term for one's grandmother.
    • Madam / Mrs.: Used as a respectful or affectionate term for an older woman.
Usage Examples
  • Noun (Historical):
    • Các vị mệ trong triều đình nhà Nguyễn có cuộc sống rất khác biệt. (The princes and princesses in the Nguyễn dynasty court lived very distinct lives.)
  • Noun (Dialectal):
    • Mệ nội của tôi rất hiền. (My paternal grandmother is very kind.)
    • Mệ ơi, mệ có khỏe không? (Grandma, how are you feeling?)
Advanced Usage
  • The historical usage is now obsolete and found only in historical texts or discussions about the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945).
  • The dialectal usage remains alive in central Vietnamese speech, carrying a tone of deep familiarity and affection, often stronger than the more standard "bà."
Variants and Related Words
  • Mệ nội (n): Paternal grandmother.
  • Mệ ngoại (n): Maternal grandmother.
  • Bà (n): The standard, more common word for grandmother or madam.
Synonyms
  • Prince / Princess: royal offspring (for historical context).
  • Grandmother: grandma, granny (for dialectal context).
  • Madam: a respectful form of address for a woman.
Related Idioms
  • No common idioms are directly formed with the word "mệ" itself. Its use is primarily in direct address or reference.

Proverbs and Idioms