Definition

1. Noun:
   • Three-clump beard: A traditional style of facial hair where the beard grows in three distinct, separate tufts or clumps: one on each cheek and one on the chin.
   • This term specifically describes the appearance and arrangement of the beard, not merely its presence.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cụ già để râu ba chòm trông rất đạo mạo. (The old man with a three-clump beard looks very venerable.)
  • Trong tranh dân gian, ông Tiên thường được vẽ với râu ba chòm. (In folk paintings, the Genie is often depicted with a three-clump beard.)

Advanced Usage

• The "râu ba chòm" is a classic, literary descriptor of beard style, often associated with wise, elderly male figures in Vietnamese culture, such as scholars, genies ("ông Tiên"), or deities.

Variants and Related Words

• Râu (n): beard.

  • Anh ấy cạo râu mỗi sáng. (He shaves his beard every morning.)

• Râu kẽm (n): goatee (a beard style limited to the chin).

• Râu quai nón (n): sideburns or mutton chops (beard along the sides of the face).

Synonyms

• Three-point beard: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the three distinct points of hair.
• Triple-tuft beard: A synonym focusing on the tufted nature of the clumps.

Related Idioms and Cultural References

• While not a standalone idiom, the "râu ba chòm" is a strong cultural motif. It is a standard feature in the visual depiction of benevolent, ancient, and wise male characters in Vietnamese folklore, opera, and art.