Definition

1. Noun:
   • Rules for women, feminine virtues: "nữ tắc" refers to the traditional rules, standards, and virtues that women were expected to follow in feudal and Confucian societies. It encompasses norms for behavior, morality, and duties.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sách "Nữ tắc" là một tác phẩm giáo huấn phụ nữ thời phong kiến. (The book "Nữ tắc" is a work of feminine education from the feudal period.)
  • Những "nữ tắc" cổ hủ đó không còn phù hợp với xã hội hiện đại. (Those outdated "rules for women" are no longer suitable for modern society.)

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Cultural Term: The term is primarily used in historical, academic, or critical contexts to discuss traditional gender roles and social norms in East Asian cultures influenced by Confucianism.
  • Việc nghiên cứu "nữ tắc" giúp hiểu rõ hơn về địa vị của phụ nữ trong lịch sử. (Studying "feminine virtues" helps us better understand the status of women in history.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tam tòng, tứ đức: This is a closely related Confucian concept specifying women's subordination (tam tòng - three obediences) and virtues (tứ đức - four virtues).
  • "Tam tòng tứ đức" là hệ thống quy tắc chi tiết hơn của "nữ tắc". ("The three obediences and four virtues" is a more detailed system of rules within "feminine virtues".)

Synonyms

• Khuôn phép của phụ nữ: rules for women.
• Đạo làm con gái: the way/principle of being a woman (archaic).

Notes on Meaning

• Historical Context: The word carries a strong historical and cultural connotation. It is not used in contemporary daily life to prescribe behavior but is referenced when discussing history, literature, or social change.
• Critical Connotation: In modern discourse, the term often carries a negative or critical connotation, representing oppressive, patriarchal standards imposed on women in the past.

1. Ruler of feminine education