sĩ dân
Definition
- Noun (Historical):
- The scholar class; the literati class: Refers to the educated class in historical Vietnamese society, particularly those who studied Confucian classics and could potentially become mandarins.
- Intellectuals; the educated class: Denotes the social stratum comprising scholars and educated individuals, distinct from peasants, artisans, and merchants.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Tầng lớp sĩ dân đóng vai trò quan trọng trong xã hội phong kiến. (The scholar class played an important role in feudal society.)
- Văn hóa truyền thống Việt Nam chịu ảnh hưởng sâu sắc từ giới sĩ dân. (Traditional Vietnamese culture was deeply influenced by the literati class.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in historical or academic contexts to discuss the social structure of pre-modern Vietnam, specifically under Confucian influence.
Variants and Related Words
- Sĩ phu (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "sĩ dân" to refer to scholars or Confucian literati.
- Các sĩ phu yêu nước thường lãnh đạo các phong trào cải cách. (Patriotic scholars often led reform movements.)
- Nho sĩ (n): A Confucian scholar.
- Các nho sĩ thông thạo Tứ thư, Ngũ kinh. (Confucian scholars were well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics.)
Synonyms
- Literati: Learned and educated people, especially those involved in literary or scholarly pursuits.
- Scholar class: The social group devoted to study and learning.
- Intelligentsia: The intellectual elite of a society.
Related Concepts
- Tứ dân (四民): The "four peoples" or four traditional social classes in East Asian Confucian societies: (scholars), (farmers), (artisans), (merchants). "Sĩ dân" refers specifically to the first and highest-ranking class in this hierarchy.