Definition

1. Noun:
   • Japanese lilac (Syringa reticulata): A species of flowering plant in the olive family, native to eastern Asia. It is a small tree or large shrub known for its creamy-white, fragrant flower clusters that bloom in early summer.
   • A melancholic, poetic sentiment associated with autumn/winter: In Vietnamese literary context, the term can evoke a feeling of sorrow or pensiveness linked to the east or the autumn season, stemming from the literal meaning of its components ("sầu" = sorrow, "đông" = east/winter).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • Trong vườn nhà tôi có một cây sầu đông rất thơm. (In my garden, there is a very fragrant Japanese lilac.)
  • Hoa sầu đông nở trắng xóa một góc trời. (The Japanese lilac flowers bloomed, whitening a corner of the sky.)
• Noun (Sentiment):
  • Thơ ông ấy mang một nỗi sầu đông man mác. (His poetry carries a vague, melancholic autumnal sorrow.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in botanical or poetic/literary contexts. In everyday modern conversation, it is not a common word.

Variants and Related Words

• Tử đinh hương: Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). This is a different, more commonly known species of lilac.
• Sầu: Sorrow, melancholy (noun/verb).
• Đông: East; winter (noun).

Synonyms

• Japanese tree lilac: For the plant.
• Melancholy, autumnal sadness: For the poetic sentiment.

Notes

• The reference definition "lilas du Japon" confirms the primary botanical meaning as Japanese lilac.
• The poetic meaning is an evocative, figurative extension based on the word's etymology and is more likely encountered in literature or classical poetry than in daily use.