Definition

Noun: - Hierarchy, order of precedence: A system or structure in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status, authority, or seniority. It refers to the established order of rank and subordination, especially in a social or organizational context.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Xã hội phong kiến có tôn ti rất nghiêm ngặt. (Feudal society had a very strict hierarchy.)
  • Công ty này đề cao tôn ti trật tự. (This company emphasizes hierarchical order.)
  • Họ muốn xóa bỏ mọi tôn ti đẳng cấp cũ. (They want to abolish all old hierarchies and classes.)

Advanced Usage

• "tôn ti trật tự": A fixed compound phrase meaning "hierarchical order" or "established order of precedence." It strongly emphasizes a rigid, well-defined structure of ranks.
  • Một tổ chức quân sự luôn duy trì tôn ti trật tự. (A military organization always maintains hierarchical order.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thứ bậc (n): Rank, level. (A more common and general synonym for rank or grade within a system.)
• Cấp bậc (n): Grade, rank. (Often used in military, administrative, or organizational contexts.)
• Đẳng cấp (n): Class, stratum. (Refers to social or economic class, often used alongside "tôn ti".)

Synonyms

• Hệ thống cấp bậc: System of ranks.
• Trật tự trên dưới: Order of superior and subordinate.

Notes on Usage

• Tôn ti is a Sino-Vietnamese word (Hán-Việt) with a formal and somewhat classical tone. It is often used in written language or formal discussions about social, historical, or organizational structures.
• Its usage is often limited and it is typically not used as the subject of a sentence. It is commonly found in fixed phrases like "tôn ti trật tự".
• The word conveys a sense of a traditional, established, and sometimes rigid order.

noun

1. hierarchy