Definition

1. Verb:
   • To address with a respectful title or honorific: To call someone by a formal, dignified, or reverential title to show high esteem or deference.
   • To proclaim / to bestow a title: To formally declare or confer a prestigious title or rank upon someone, often in a ceremonial context.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người dân tôn xưng ông ấy là thánh. (The people address him as a saint.)
  • Nghị viện tôn xưng vị tướng quân làm hoàng đế. (The parliament proclaimed the general emperor.)
  • Trong gia đình, chúng tôi tôn xưng ông bà bằng những từ rất trang trọng. (In our family, we address our grandparents with very formal terms.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical, religious, or formal institutional contexts to describe the act of granting or using a title of high honor.
• It implies a public or formal acknowledgment of someone's elevated status, authority, or virtue.

Variants and Related Words

• Tôn vinh (v): to honor, to glorify. This focuses more on the act of showing honor rather than specifically using a title.

  • Lễ trao giải nhằm tôn vinh các nhà khoa học. (The awards ceremony aims to honor the scientists.)

• Tôn kính (v/adj): to revere, to venerate; respectful. This describes the feeling of deep respect.

  • Mọi người đều tôn kính vị lão làng. (Everyone reveres the village elder.)

Synonyms

• To honor (with a title): To confer distinction.
• To proclaim: To declare officially.
• To address as: To call by a specific name or title.
• To style: To designate with a particular title.

Related Idioms

• Tôn xưng đại vương: To proclaim someone as a great king. This phrase exemplifies the ceremonial use of the term.
  • Sau chiến thắng, binh lính tôn xưng ông ấy làm đại vương. (After the victory, the soldiers proclaimed him as the great king.)