minh tinh
Definition
- Noun:
- Funerary banner: A long strip of cloth or paper, inscribed with the name and official titles of a deceased person, carried at the front of a funeral procession in former times.
- Leading star / Star (of stage or screen): In modern usage, this is the primary meaning. It refers to a famous and celebrated actor or actress, a leading star.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Historical):
- Trong đám tang xưa, người ta thường cầm minh tinh đi trước linh cữu. (In funerals of the past, people often carried the funerary banner in front of the coffin.)
- Noun (Modern):
- Cô ấy là một minh tinh điện ảnh nổi tiếng quốc tế. (She is a famous international movie star.)
- Minh tinh sân khấu đó được khán giả vô cùng yêu mến. (That stage star is immensely loved by the audience.)
Advanced Usage
- The historical meaning is now considered archaic and is primarily encountered in literature or historical texts describing traditional customs.
- The modern meaning is dominant and used frequently in media, entertainment news, and everyday conversation to refer to celebrities.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngôi sao (n): star (celebrity). This is a more common and general synonym for the modern meaning of "minh tinh."
- Anh ấy là ngôi sao nhạc pop. (He is a pop star.)
- Danh ca (n): famous singer (specifically for vocalists).
- Tài tử / Nữ diễn viên (n): actor / actress. These are more neutral terms without the connotation of major fame implied by "minh tinh."
Synonyms
- Star: a famous performer.
- Celebrity: a famous person.
- Luminary: a person who inspires or influences others, especially in a particular field (formal).
Related Idioms
- Minh tinh màn bạc: silver screen star (specifically for film actors).
- Ông được coi là một minh tinh màn bạc huyền thoại. (He is considered a legendary silver screen star.)
- Minh tinh sân khấu: stage star (specifically for theater actors).