Definition

1. Noun:
   • Porcelain / China: A hard, white, translucent ceramic material, made by firing a pure clay like kaolin at a high temperature. It is often glazed and decorated.
   • Envoy / Ambassador: A diplomatic agent or representative sent by a sovereign state or ruler on a mission, especially a permanent one.
   • (Historical, Colonial) Resident: In the colonial context, specifically the French colonial administration in Vietnam, the "công sứ" was a high-ranking official, a Resident.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Porcelain):

  • Cô ấy sưu tầm những bình hoa bằng sứ cổ. (She collects antique porcelain vases.)
  • Tách trà bằng sứ rất dễ vỡ. (The porcelain teacup is very fragile.)

• Noun (Envoy):

  • Nhà vua cử một vị sứ giả sang nước láng giềng. (The king sent an envoy to the neighboring country.)
  • Ông ấy từng là đại sứ của Việt Nam tại Pháp. (He was once Vietnam's ambassador to France.)

• Noun (Historical Resident):

  • Tòa nhà này xưa kia là dinh quan sứ. (This building was formerly the Resident's mansion.)

Advanced Usage

• "bông sứ": frangipani flower (Plumeria). While "sứ" alone refers to the ceramic, "bông sứ" specifically names the tropical flower.

  • Hương thơm của bông sứ rất dịu nhẹ. (The scent of the frangipani flower is very gentle.)

• "đi sứ": to go on a diplomatic mission.

  • Sứ thần chuẩn bị lên đường đi sứ. (The envoy prepared to depart on the diplomatic mission.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đồ sứ (n): porcelain ware, china.

  • Cửa hàng bán rất nhiều đồ sứ nhập khẩu. (The shop sells a lot of imported porcelain ware.)

• Sứ quán (n): embassy.

  • Anh ấy làm việc tại sứ quán. (He works at the embassy.)

• Sứ giả (n): messenger, emissary (often with a specific mission).

  • Sứ giả mang tin chiến thắng trở về. (The messenger returned with news of victory.)

Synonyms

• Porcelain: china, ceramic.
• Envoy: ambassador, emissary, diplomat, legate.
• Resident: colonial administrator, official.

Related Idioms

• "Làm sứ giả hòa bình": to act as a peace envoy.

  • Tổ chức quốc tế cử ông ấy làm sứ giả hòa bình đến vùng xung đột. (The international organization sent him as a peace envoy to the conflict zone.)

• "Mồm miệng đỡ chân tay, đồ sứ đỡ đồ sành": (Proverb) Literally "The mouth substitutes for limbs, porcelain substitutes for earthenware." It means using clever words or a superior substitute to get out of work or a difficult situation.

noun

1. china, porcelain envoy, ambassader
2. (cũ) French resident