quan viên
Definition
- Noun (Historical):
- Mandarin; official: A general term for government officials, both high and low ranking, in feudal society.
- Exempted person: An individual with a certain status who was exempt from corvée labor and miscellaneous duties in a village during the French colonial period in Vietnam.
- Patron; client: A male customer or patron of singing girl houses (cô đầu establishments) in the old society.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong xã hội phong kiến, các quan viên có nhiều đặc quyền. (In feudal society, mandarins had many privileges.)
- Ông cụ thân sinh ra ông ấy là một quan viên được miễn phu phen. (His father was an exempted person who didn't have to do corvée labor.)
- Khu phố này xưa kia nổi tiếng với những quan viên hay lui tới. (This street was once famous for the patrons who frequented it.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily historical and is used to describe social roles in pre-modern and colonial Vietnamese society. It carries connotations of social hierarchy, privilege, and specific subcultures.
Variants and Related Words
- Quan lại (n): A more common and general term for officials or mandarins.
- Triều đình có nhiều quan lại tham nhũng. (The court had many corrupt officials.)
Synonyms
- Official: A person holding a public office or position of authority.
- Mandarin: A historical term for a senior official in imperial China or Vietnam.
- Patron: A customer, especially a regular one, of a business.
Related Cultural Notes
- The third meaning () reflects a specific aspect of urban social life in early 20th century northern Vietnam. These establishments were venues for music, poetry, and entertainment, and their clientele often included scholars and men of leisure.