Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of high and low status; noble and base: Refers to the distinction or contrast between people of elevated, aristocratic social standing and those of humble, common, or lowly origin. It describes a societal hierarchy based on birth, wealth, or class.
   • Pertaining to social rank: Used to discuss the differences in social position, often to emphasize equality or the irrelevance of such distinctions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Trong mắt anh ấy, không có sự phân biệt sang hèn. (In his eyes, there is no distinction between the noble and the base.)
  • Câu chuyện đó kể về một tình bạn vượt qua mọi rào cản sang hèn. (That story tells of a friendship that transcends all barriers of high and low status.)
  • Xã hội ngày xưa thường chia rẽ bởi quan niệm sang hèn. (Society in the past was often divided by the concept of nobility and commonness.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a philosophical or moral context to critique class discrimination and to advocate for the inherent worth of every individual regardless of social station.
• It can function as a compound noun in phrases like "sự sang hèn" (the state/condition of high and low rank).

Variants and Related Words

• Sang (adj): noble, elegant, high-class.
  • Anh ta xuất thân từ một gia đình sang trọng. (He comes from a noble/wealthy family.)
• Hèn (adj): lowly, vile, base, mean.
  • Hắn ta có những hành động thật hèn mọn. (He has truly vile/despicable actions.)
• Sang trọng (adj): luxurious, classy, elegant.
• Hèn mọn (adj): petty, lowly, insignificant.

Synonyms

• Noble and common: Referring to the two ends of the social spectrum.
• High-born and low-born: Emphasizing birth status.
• Aristocratic and plebeian: Formal terms for the upper and lower classes.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Không phân biệt sang hèn: To make no distinction between the noble and the base; to treat everyone equally regardless of social status.
  • Người lãnh đạo tốt là người không phân biệt sang hèn. (A good leader is one who makes no distinction between high and low status.)
• Sang giàu, hèn nghèo: A phrase extending the contrast to include wealth (rich) and poverty (poor).
  • Tình người quý hơn mọi thứ sang giàu, hèn nghèo. (Human compassion is more valuable than all distinctions of rich and noble, poor and lowly.)