Definition

1. Noun:
   • Eunuch (of the royal palace): A historical term for a castrated man who served as an attendant or guard in the inner quarters of a royal palace or household.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong triều đình phong kiến, nội giám có nhiệm vụ canh gác hậu cung. (In the feudal court, the eunuch had the duty of guarding the royal harem.)
  • Vai trò của nội giám đã biến mất cùng chế độ quân chủ. (The role of the palace eunuch disappeared along with the monarchy.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "nội giám" is almost exclusively used in historical or literary contexts to refer to the specific institution of eunuchs within the Vietnamese imperial system.

Variants and Related Words

• Thái giám: A more common and general synonym for eunuch, especially one holding official duties in the palace.
  • Vị thái giám đó rất được nhà vua tin cậy. (That eunuch was highly trusted by the king.)

Synonyms

• Palace eunuch: A castrated male servant in a royal palace.
• Court eunuch: A eunuch who served in a sovereign's court.

Notes on Usage

• "Nội giám" is an archaic term. In modern Vietnamese, "thái giám" is the more widely recognized word for a eunuch.
• The word is compound, formed from "nội" (inner, interior) and "giám" (to oversee, inspector), literally meaning "inner inspector" or "overseer of the inner quarters."