Definition

1. Noun:
   • Royal adviser (in charge of preventing the ruler from doing wrong): A historical official in the Vietnamese imperial court whose primary duty was to remonstrate with and advise the emperor, correcting his mistakes and criticizing improper policies or actions.
   • Censor / Imperial censor: An official responsible for supervising and monitoring government administration and the conduct of other officials, ensuring adherence to law and proper conduct.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Vị ngự sử can gián nhà vua không nên tiến hành chiến tranh. (The royal adviser remonstrated with the king, advising him not to wage war.)
  • Chức vụ ngự sử đòi hỏi sự liêm khiết và dũng cảm. (The position of imperial censor requires integrity and courage.)

Advanced Usage

• The role of a "ngự sử" was a key part of the traditional Confucian-based bureaucratic system, acting as a check on the emperor's absolute power. They had the right and duty to speak frankly, even at personal risk.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngự sử đài (n): The Censorate; the governmental agency or bureau where the imperial censors worked.

  • Ông ấy từng đứng đầu ngự sử đài. (He once headed the Censorate.)

• Gián quan (n): Remonstrating official; a synonym emphasizing the advisory and corrective function.

  • Gián quan có nhiệm vụ tương tự ngự sử. (A remonstrating official has a duty similar to a royal adviser.)

Synonyms

• Censor: An official who examines conduct and policies.
• Remonstrator: One who protests or pleads in protest.
• Imperial inspector: An official who supervises and investigates.

Related Idioms

• While there are no direct idioms using "ngự sử", the concept is linked to the proverb:
  • "Quân xử thần tử, thần bất tử bất trung" (If the king orders the subject to die, the subject who does not die is disloyal.) The ngự sử operated within this tension, demonstrating loyalty through courageous criticism rather than blind obedience.

1. Royal adviser (in charge of preventing the rule from doing wrong)