Definition

1. Noun:
   • Judge (archaic/official): A historical term for a magistrate or judge who presides over a court of law, hears cases, and makes legal judgments. It conveys a sense of formal authority within a judicial system.
   • Arbiter: By extension, a person who makes authoritative decisions or judgments in any dispute.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Quan toà đang xem xét các chứng cứ. (The judge is considering the evidence.)
  • Vị quan toà đó nổi tiếng là công bằng. (That judge is famous for being fair.)
  • Trong cuộc tranh luận, anh ấy tự cho mình là quan toà. (In the argument, he appointed himself the arbiter.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "quan toà" is often used in historical or literary contexts. In modern Vietnamese legal terminology, "thẩm phán" is the more common and contemporary word for "judge."
• It can be used metaphorically to refer to a person or principle that makes final judgments.
  • Lương tâm là quan toà nghiêm khắc nhất. (Conscience is the strictest judge.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thẩm phán (n): Judge (modern standard term).

  • Vị thẩm phán đã tuyên án. (The judge pronounced the sentence.)

• Quan án (n, archaic): A similar historical term for a judicial official or magistrate.

Synonyms

• Judge: A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.
• Magistrate: A civil officer who administers the law.
• Arbiter: A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority.

Related Idioms

• Lên ghế quan toà: To act as a judge; to sit in judgment (often used critically).
  • Đừng vội lên ghế quan toà khi chưa nghe hết câu chuyện. (Don't be quick to sit in judgment before hearing the whole story.)