Definition

1. Noun:
   • Women and girls; the female sex: A collective term referring to females, often emphasizing traditional views of femininity or perceived delicacy.
   • (Archaic) The fairer/weaker sex: An old-fashioned term used to refer to women, sometimes implying gentleness or a perceived lack of physical strength compared to men.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tấm lòng nhi nữ cũng xiêu anh hùng. (The heart of a woman can also sway a hero.)
  • Câu chuyện đó chỉ là nhi nữ thường tình. (That story is merely typical feminine sentiment.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tấm lòng nhi nữ": A woman's heart; often used to describe compassionate, gentle, or sentimental feelings traditionally associated with women.

  • Anh ấy bị chinh phục bởi tấm lòng nhi nữ của cô. (He was conquered by her womanly heart.)

• "Nhi nữ thường tình": Common feminine sentiments; refers to emotions or reactions considered typical or characteristic of women.

  • Đừng để nhi nữ thường tình ảnh hưởng đến quyết định quan trọng. (Don't let common feminine sentiments affect an important decision.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhi (n, archaic): Child; often used in classical literature. In compound words, it can imply youth or endearment.
• Nữ (n): Female, woman. A common morpheme in words related to women (e.g., - women, - the female gender).

Synonyms

• Phụ nữ: Women (a standard, modern term).
• Nữ giới: The female gender/sex.
• Đàn bà con gái: Women and girls (a colloquial collective term).

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word nhi nữ is now considered archaic or literary. It is primarily found in classical Vietnamese poetry (), literature (), and proverbs ().
• Connotation: While it literally means "women and girls," its usage often carries traditional, sometimes stereotypical, notions about femininity, such as tenderness, sentimentality, or perceived physical weakness. It is a reflection of historical societal views.
• Modern Context: In contemporary Vietnamese, using phụ nữ or con gái is more common and neutral. Using nhi nữ in everyday speech would sound outdated or intentionally poetic.

1. (cũ) The weaker sex