Definition

1. Noun:

   • Vermilion / Cinnabar: A bright red pigment originally made from powdered mineral (cinnabar), traditionally used in East Asian art, calligraphy, and seals.
   • Lipstick: A cosmetic product, typically in stick form, used to color the lips red or other shades.

2. Adjective:

   • Vermilion / Red: Having a bright red color similar to the pigment.
   • Young and childless: Describing a married couple who are young and do not yet have children.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nghệ nhân dùng son đỏ để đóng dấu lên bức tranh. (The artisan used vermilion to stamp the painting.)
  • Cô ấy mới mua một thỏi son màu đỏ rất đẹp. (She just bought a very beautiful red lipstick.)
• Adjective:
  • Chiếc hộp sơn son thếp vàng trông rất cổ kính. (The lacquered box with vermilion and gold leaf looks very ancient.)
  • Họ là một đôi vợ chồng son, mới cưới được một năm. (They are a young, childless couple, married for only a year.)

Advanced Usage

• "nét son": Literally "a vermilion stroke," figuratively means a brilliant achievement, a highlight, or a glorious mark in history.
  • Chiến thắng đó là một nét son trong lịch sử dân tộc. (That victory is a glorious mark in the nation's history.)
• "tô son điểm phấn": Literally "to apply lipstick and powder," means to put on makeup or, figuratively, to embellish or prettify something.
  • Cô ấy tô son điểm phấn trước khi đi dự tiệc. (She applied her lipstick and powder before going to the party.)

Variants and Related Words

• Son môi (n): Lipstick. This is the more common, specific compound for "lipstick."
  • Tủ trang điểm của cô ấy có rất nhiều son môi. (Her makeup drawer has a lot of lipstick.)
• Son phấn (n): Makeup, cosmetics (literally "lipstick and powder").
  • Cô ấy không dùng nhiều son phấn. (She doesn't use much makeup.)

Synonyms

• Vermilion: cinnabar, bright red.
• Lipstick: lip color, lip cosmetic.
• Red: scarlet, crimson (when used as an adjective for color).

Related Idioms

• Môi son má phấn: Literally "vermilion lips and powdered cheeks," describes a beautifully made-up woman or the act of being made up.
  • Các cô gái môi son má phấn rất duyên dáng. (The girls with rouged lips and powdered cheeks are very charming.)
• Sơn son thếp vàng: Literally "lacquered with vermilion and gilded with gold," describes something elaborately decorated, often used for antique furniture or religious objects. It can also imply superficial embellishment.
  • Bức hoành phi được sơn son thếp vàng cẩn thận. (The horizontal lacquered board was carefully gilded with gold leaf.)

noun

1. ochre vermilion, Chinese vermilion lipstick

adj

1. young