Definition

1. Noun:

   • Stateliness; majesty; imposing appearance: "Oai" refers to a dignified, majestic, or awe-inspiring presence or aura, often associated with authority or power.
   • Authority; prestige: "Oai" can also denote the power or influence that commands respect or fear.

2. Adjective:

   • Stately; majestic; imposing: Describes a person, appearance, or manner that is dignified, grand, and commands respect or awe.
   • Authoritative; commanding: Describes someone who exudes power and commands obedience or respect.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Vị tướng có oai lắm. (The general has great majesty / a very imposing presence.)
  • Nó sợ oai của thầy giáo. (He is afraid of the teacher's authority.)

• Adjective:

  • Ông ấy trông rất oai trong bộ quân phục. (He looks very stately / imposing in his military uniform.)
  • Lời nói của anh ấy nghe thật oai. (His words sound very authoritative.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm oai": To put on airs; to act in a domineering or imposing manner to assert authority.

  • Anh ta thích làm oai với cấp dưới. (He likes to put on airs with his subordinates.)

• "Oai phong": This is a compound word meaning majestic and imposing, often used to describe a heroic or grand bearing.

  • Người lính đứng gác trông thật oai phong. (The soldier on guard looks truly majestic and imposing.) (Note: This is listed as a compound variant below.)

• "Oai vệ": This is a compound word meaning dignified and majestic.

  • Tượng đài sừng sững và oai vệ. (The monument stands tall and majestic.) (Note: This is listed as a compound variant below.)

Variants and Related Words

• Oai phong (adj): Majestic, imposing, heroic in bearing.
• Oai vệ (adj): Dignified, stately, majestic.
• Oai nghiêm (adj): Solemn and majestic, dignified and stern.
• Uy oai (n/adj): Might and majesty; majestic power. (Combines "uy" - power/might - and "oai").

Synonyms

• Uy nghi (adj): Majestic, august.
• Đường bệ (adj): Stately, dignified.
• Uy quyền (n): Authority, power.

Related Idioms

• "Sợ oai không mến đức": To fear someone's power/authority without admiring their virtue. (Literally: to fear the majesty, not to cherish the virtue.)

  • Một người lãnh đạo không nên để dân chúng sợ oai không mến đức. (A leader should not let the people fear his authority without admiring his virtue.)

• "Oai như cú": As imposing/ferocious as an owl. (An idiom used, often humorously or sarcastically, to describe someone trying to look very stern or imposing.)

  • Nó giận, làm bộ oai như cú. (He got angry and tried to look as imposing as an owl.)

noun

1. stateliness; majestry; imposing appenrance

adj

1. stately; majestic