mề đay

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Medal: A flat piece of metal, often round or shaped like a cross, suspended from a colored ribbon, awarded as a decoration or honor for service, achievement, or bravery. Historically, in Vietnam, this term specifically referred to medals awarded by the French colonial administration.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy được trao tặng một chiếc mề đay vì lòng dũng cảm. (He was awarded a medal for his bravery.)
  • Chiếc mề đay cũ được lưu giữ như một kỷ vật gia đình. (The old medal is kept as a family heirloom.)
  • Dứt cái mề đay ném xuống sông. (Snap off the medal and throw it into the river.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "mề đay" carries a specific historical connotation in Vietnamese literature and context, often associated with the honors system of the French colonial period. Its use can imply a complex relationship with colonial authority, ranging from pride to rejection, as seen in the classic poetic example.

Variants and Related Words

• Huy chương (n): Medal. This is a more modern and general term for a medal awarded in sports, military, or civil contexts, without the specific colonial historical weight of .
  • Cô vận động viên giành huy chương vàng. (The athlete won the gold medal.)

Synonyms

• Medal: A flat piece of metal with an inscription or design, made to commemorate an event or awarded for excellence or service.
• Decoration: An award or honor, often a badge or medal, given for merit.
• Badge: A distinctive emblem worn as a mark of office, membership, achievement, or honor.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "mề đay". Its usage is primarily literal or historical.