ngoại hương
Definition
- Noun:
- Maternal homeland; mother's native village: Refers to the rural village or countryside associated with one's mother's side of the family. It evokes a sense of ancestral origin, nostalgia, and personal roots connected to the maternal line.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Mỗi dịp hè, chúng tôi lại về thăm ngoại hương. (Every summer, we return to visit our maternal homeland.)
- Những ký ức tuổi thơ ở ngoại hương thật bình yên. (Childhood memories in my mother's native village were so peaceful.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is poetic and literary, often used to convey deep sentimental attachment, contrast with urban life, or describe a place of emotional return and origin.
Variants and Related Words
- Quê ngoại (n): A more common, colloquial synonym for "ngoại hương," meaning maternal hometown.
- Nghỉ lễ, tôi sẽ về quê ngoại. (During the holiday, I will return to my mother's hometown.)
Synonyms
- Maternal homeland: The land or village of one's mother's family.
- Mother's native village: The specific rural village where one's mother grew up.
Related Idioms
- While "ngoại hương" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it relates to themes in phrases like:
- Gốc gác ngoại gia: Referring to one's roots or origins on the mother's side of the family.