mẹ già
Definition
- Noun:
- Old mother: A direct and affectionate term for one's own mother, often used to refer to her with respect and tenderness, especially as she ages.
- First wife (archaic): In a polygamous context, this term historically referred to the father's first wife, particularly from the perspective of children born to a subsequent wife.
Usage Examples
Noun (Old mother):
- Mẹ già luôn mong con cái trở về. (The old mother always longs for her children to return home.)
- Anh ấy chăm sóc mẹ già rất chu đáo. (He takes very meticulous care of his old mother.)
Noun (First wife - archaic):
- Trong gia đình xưa, mẹ già có địa vị quan trọng. (In families of the past, the first wife held an important position.)
Advanced Usage
- The term carries strong emotional connotations of filial piety, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between mother and child. It is more intimate and evocative than the neutral word "mẹ" (mother).
Variants and Related Words
Mẹ (n): mother.
- Mẹ tôi là giáo viên. (My mother is a teacher.)
Má (n): a Southern Vietnamese term for mother.
- Má tôi nấu ăn rất ngon. (My mom cooks very well.)
Mẫu thân (n): a formal, literary term for mother.
- Lòng mẫu thân bao la như biển cả. (A mother's love is as vast as the ocean.)
Synonyms
- Mother: a female parent.
- Matriarch: a woman who is the head of a family or tribe.
Related Idioms
- Mẹ già con mọn: Describes a situation of an old mother with young, dependent children, often implying hardship or vulnerability.
- Cảnh mẹ già con mọn thật đáng thương. (The plight of an old mother with infant children is truly pitiable.)