Definition

1. Noun (archaic):
   • My wife: A term used by a man to refer to his own wife when speaking to others, conveying a sense of familiarity and respect.
   • My old woman: A colloquial and somewhat informal translation of the term, reflecting its affectionate, everyday use.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nội nhân của tôi vừa mới trở về. (My wife has just returned.)
  • Tôi sẽ tham khảo ý kiến với nội nhân trước. (I will consult with my wife first.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is considered archaic or old-fashioned in modern Vietnamese. It is rarely used in contemporary everyday speech and is more likely to be encountered in classical literature, historical dramas, or used deliberately for a stylistic, formal, or humorous effect.

Variants and Related Words

• Nội trợ (n): Homemaker, housewife. This is a modern, neutral term focusing on the domestic role.
  • Cô ấy là một người nội trợ đảm đang. (She is a capable homemaker.)
• Phu nhân (n): Madame, wife. A more formal and respectful term, often used in official or high-status contexts.
  • Phu nhân của tổng giám đốc. (The managing director's wife.)

Synonyms

• My wife: The standard, neutral modern equivalent.
• My spouse: A more formal and gender-neutral term.
• My better half: An affectionate and informal idiom in English.

Notes on Usage

• Register: The term 'nội nhân' belongs to a formal and outdated register. Using it in casual modern conversation may sound strange or intentionally quaint.
• Context: Its use implies the speaker is male and is referring to his own wife in the third person while addressing an external listener. It is not used to address one's wife directly.
• Connotation: It carries a tone of traditional respect and propriety within the marital relationship, as was common in older societal norms. The colloquial translation "my old woman" captures its familiar, non-derogatory nuance.

1. (cũ) My wife, my old woman (thông tục)