phi hậu
Definition
- Noun:
- Consort of a King / Royal Concubine: A historical term for a wife or official consort of a monarch, specifically a king or emperor, in a feudal or royal court. It denotes a woman of high rank within the imperial harem, below the empress.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Vị phi hậu đó nổi tiếng vì sự thông minh và lòng nhân hậu. (That royal consort was famous for her intelligence and kindness.)
- Trong cung điện, các phi hậu có những khu vực sinh hoạt riêng. (Within the palace, the royal consorts had their own separate living quarters.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "phi hậu" is primarily used in historical or literary contexts to refer to the feudal Vietnamese royal court system. It is not used in contemporary language to describe modern relationships.
Variants and Related Words
- Hoàng hậu (n): Empress, the primary wife of the emperor.
- Cung tần (n): A general term for imperial concubines or ladies of the palace.
- Vương phi (n): Consort of a prince or a king (often used in a broader East Asian context).
Synonyms
- Royal consort: A wife of a monarch, especially one other than the empress.
- Imperial concubine: A secondary wife or consort of an emperor in some historical societies.
Related Idioms
- Chuyện hậu cung: Refers to the intricate and often secretive affairs, politics, and dramas within the royal harem.
- Bộ phim khắc họa rõ những chuyện hậu cung đầy phức tạp. (The film clearly depicts the intricate affairs of the royal harem.)