nô thần
Trong triều đình phong kiến, không thiếu những kẻ nô thần chỉ biết nịnh hót vua.
Definition
- Noun:
- Servile courtier / Obsequious minister: A historical term referring to a court official or minister who exhibits extreme, self-abasing loyalty and servility to a ruler, often prioritizing personal favor over principled governance.
- Vassal / Liege man: In a feudal or historical context, a subordinate who is bound by oath to serve a lord or monarch.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong triều đình phong kiến, không thiếu những kẻ nô thần chỉ biết nịnh hót vua. (In the feudal court, there was no shortage of servile courtiers who only knew how to flatter the king.)
- Vị tướng ấy là một nô thần trung thành, sẵn sàng hi sinh mạng sống cho chúa tể của mình. (That general was a loyal vassal, willing to sacrifice his life for his lord.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is strongly pejorative in modern usage, implying a shameful lack of dignity and independent judgment. It criticizes blind, fawning obedience.
Variants and Related Words
- Nô lệ (n): slave. A person who is legally owned by another and forced to obey.
- Lịch sử ghi nhận những cuộc nổi dậy của nô lệ. (History records slave uprisings.)
- Bầy tôi (n): courtier, subject. A more neutral term for an official or servant of a monarch.
- Các bầy tôi trong triều đều cúi đầu. (All the courtiers in the court bowed their heads.)
Synonyms
- Sycophant: A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.
- Lackey: A servile follower; a toady.
- Vassal: A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.
Related Idioms
- Làm thân nô lệ: To act like a slave; to behave in a servile manner.
- Hắn ta sẵn sàng làm thân nô lệ để được thăng chức. (He is willing to act like a slave to get a promotion.)