sủng thần
Definition
- Noun:
- A favorite minister: A court official who is specifically favored, trusted, and granted exceptional influence by a monarch, often due to personal affection rather than solely merit.
- A royal favorite: A person, typically within a royal court, who receives special patronage, privileges, and closeness from the sovereign, such as a king or emperor.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Vị sủng thần đó nắm quyền lực rất lớn trong triều đình. (That royal favorite held great power in the court.)
- Nhà vua nghe theo lời xúi giục của các sủng thần. (The king listened to the instigations of his favorites.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "sủng thần" is historical and literary, primarily used in contexts describing feudal dynasties, historical narratives, or classical literature. It carries a connotation of potentially excessive or unmerited influence, which could lead to court intrigue or corruption.
- Lịch sử ghi lại nhiều triều đại suy vong vì vua tin dùng sủng thần. (History records many dynasties that declined because the king trusted favorites.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sủng ái (v): to dote on, to favor (especially of a superior's affection towards a subordinate).
- Hoàng đế sủng ái một vị quan trẻ. (The emperor doted on a young official.)
- Thần tử (n): a subject or minister (a more general, neutral term for a court official).
Synonyms
- Favorite: a person treated with special favor.
- Minion: a follower or underling, especially one who servilely follows a powerful person (often pejorative).
- Court favorite: a specifically historical synonym.
Related Idioms
- While there is no direct idiom with "sủng thần", the concept is central to the classical idiom:
- "Trọng dụng nịnh thần": to value and employ sycophantic ministers. This describes a ruler's harmful practice of promoting flatterers, which is closely related to having "sủng thần".
- Triều đình hỗn loạn vì nhà vua trọng dụng nịnh thần. (The court was in chaos because the king valued sycophantic ministers.)