mày râu
Definition
- Noun (archaic/literary):
- Beard and eyebrows: Refers literally to the facial hair of a man, specifically the eyebrows and beard.
- Men (as a collective): A figurative and respectful term used to refer to men collectively, emphasizing masculine qualities or the male gender.
Usage Examples
- Noun (literal):
- Mày râu nhẵn nhụi, áo quần bảnh bao. (His beard and eyebrows were smooth, his clothes were elegant.)
- Noun (figurative):
- Đó là chuyện của phái mày râu. (That is a matter for men.)
- Khách mày râu đều tán thưởng. (The male guests all applauded.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is now primarily used in a literary, formal, or slightly humorous context. In modern, everyday speech, words like "đàn ông" (men) or "phái mạnh" (the stronger sex) are more common.
- It often carries a tone of respect or emphasizes traditional masculine attributes like strength, honor, or responsibility.
Variants and Related Words
- Râu ria (n): Colloquial term for beard and mustache; facial hair.
- Anh ta để râu ria dài. (He grew a long beard and mustache.)
Synonyms
- Men: The standard term for adult human males.
- The male sex: Refers to men as a gender.
- Gentlemen (formal): A polite term for men.
Related Idioms
- Phái mày râu: A synonym for "menfolk" or "the male sex." It is a set phrase using "mày râu" to mean men in general.
- Phái mày râu thường thích thể thao. (Men often like sports.)